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He Grabbed the Oar With a Sharp Command : 
“Hold Tight” 








Here Gomes 
the Sun! 


BY 

EMILIE LORING 

Author of 

“The Trail of Conflict’* 



ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL GILL 


THE PENN PUBLISHING 
COMPANY PHILADELPHIA 
1924 



•?Z'^ 


CJ^ 




A' 


a 


Made in the U. S. A. 


COPYRIGHT 
1924 BY 
THE PENN 
PUBLISHING 
COMPANY 



Here Comes the Sun! 


Manufacturing 

Plant 

Camden, N. J. 



MB 10 '24 ^ 

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\ 

©ClA778322t/' 





The sense of the world is short,— 

Long and various the report,— 

To love and be beloved; 

Men and gods have not outlearned it; 

And, how oft soever they Ve turned it, 

^Tis not to be improved. 

—RalpJi WaXdo Emerson, 




1 







1 



I' 


■'’•i 

• 



'1 












Here Comes the Sun! 


CHAPTER I 

The engine shrieked a warning. Porters shouted, 

All aboard! ” As the train shivered into action 
a black cocker spaniel jumped from the baggage- 
car. Long ears flopping, red tongue hanging, the 
blue tag at his collar flapping, he dashed into a trail 
which zigzagged up the hillside. With an exclama¬ 
tion of dismay a girl on the step of the Pullman 
jumped to the ground and gave chase. The man 
on the forward platform of the car behind executed 
a spectacular leap and followed. The conductor of 
the train yelled a protest. 

On sped the spaniel. When his pursuers were 
almost upon him he dodged into the underbrush 
only to emerge higher up with a broad grin, a 
triumphant yelp and minus the blue tag. From 
below came a frantic whistle, then the puff-puff of 
the engine as the train pulled away. With a dis¬ 
turbed frown darkening his fine eyes the man 
looked down into the valley where a haze of smoke 
lay lightly. 

“ Good Lord, theyVe left us! ’’ he muttered 
angrily. 


5 


HERE COMES TEE SUN ! 


^‘Come quick! Oh, come quick! IVe caught 
him,’^ called a breathless voice. 

With a smothered anathema on train-crews in 
general and this one in particular the man picked 
up the soft hat the girl had dropped and joined her. 
She was on her knees in a small clearing with the 
spaniel clutched tightly in her arms. The light 
from the slanting sun dusted the waves of her fair 
hair with gold, the color of her eyes fused from blue 
to violet with every change of expression; her 
cheeks, her sturdy chin were dented with dimples; 
the fine frills at throat and wrists were in rags, the 
straight lines of her smart heliotrope crepe frock 
accentuated her boyish slenderness; her gray 
pumps were scratched irredeemably but her voice 
was vibrant with triumph as she held out the wrig¬ 
gling black creature in her arms. 

Here is your dog.’’ 

Mine! Isn’t he yours? 

“ No! I saw him Jump, feared that he might get 
lost and dashed after him. I adore dogs. When 
I heard someone behind me I concluded that his 
owner had joined in the chase. I couldn’t endure 
the thought that the little thing might be gobbled 
up in this wilderness.” 

She hugged the spaniel closer and sprang to her 
feet. With a quickly controlled shiver she glanced 
over her shoulder at the dark pines and their forest 
6 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

affinities which stretched up and back as far as she 
could see. She looked down into the valley. With 
a last fiery glare at the human atoms in the clear¬ 
ing the sun slid out of sight behind the hill. As 
though encouraged by the retirement of the orb of 
day a few clouds crawled forward. The air cooled. 
The mysterious sounds of unseen things hushed to a 
murmur. 

The lovely color ebbed from the girFs face. Her 
eyes were deeply darkly blue as she looked up at 
the man looking down at her. He seemed superbly 
fit. There were two creases between his brows, 
there were stem lines about his clean mouth, the 
gray eyes which steadily sustained her scrutiny 
harbored a smile in their depths. She relaxed with 
a sigh of relief. There was a suspicion of unstead¬ 
iness about her lips, a slight catch in her voice as 
she asked: 

Has that silly train really gone? ” 

It has. I^m sorry.” 

I heard them shout ^ All aboard! ’ but it didn’t 
occur to me that they would dare go on without us. 
This is the worst predicament in which my impul¬ 
siveness has landed me to date and goodness knows 
my previous record didn’t need beating. If the dog 
isn’t yours why, why did you follow me? ” 

The charm of his smile brought a responsive 
gleam to the girl’s eyes. 


7 


HERE COME^ THE EUN ! 


Because wlien I saw you dash, madly after the 
runaway I thought you might need help. I know 
these woods.”' For an instant he regarded her col¬ 
orless face, the strained white knuckles of the 
hands which clutched the dog^s black coat, then he 
went on lightly: 

‘‘ I have a mother who is a twentieth century 
model in all ways except her dislike of being out 
after dark without a male escort. In that respect 
she is hopelessly mid-Victorian. I have contracted 
the habit of looking after her, so when I saw you 
race up the hill regardless of possible consequences 
I instinctively followed to look after you. I hope 
that you don’t mind? ” 

"" Mind! I should say not.” A golden thread of 
camaraderie ran through the velvet of the girl’s 
voice; her eyes smiled with the frank responsive¬ 
ness of a boy’s as she confessed : 

“ I’m hopelessly mid-Victorian too. I hate the 
dark. The dog’s owner must have gone on with the 
train blissfully unconscious of what had happened. 
When he finds out will he place the blame where 
it belongs or will he think that you and I conspired 
to snitch the spaniel who is undoubtedly a thorough¬ 
bred? Will he? ” There was a suspicion of tears 
in her voice as she protested : 

Don’t stand there dumb as though I were that 
Gorgon female who turned people to stone! ” 

8 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


Tlie man straightened as though throwing off a 
spell. His laugh was reassuring. 

Stone! You have quite the contrary effect. 
You-” He held the sentence kicking in mid¬ 

air and produced a time-table. The crease between 
his brows deepened as he studied it. The girks 
glance followed his finger. Her eyes flashed up to 
his. 

‘^Not another train north until morning! But 
I must get on; my aunt expects me. If I do not 
appear Managing Martha will wire Mother and 
frighten her. CanT you do something 
Where does your aunt live? ’’ 

‘‘At Clearwater on the coast. It is fourteen 
miles^ run by automobile from the next station. 
How far are we from that? ” She consulted the 
time-table. “Is it really twenty-five miles?” she 
demanded in a shocked whisper. 

“ Yes. Is your aunt a native or- 

“No, she is at her summer home, Shorehaven; 
sounds like a sailors’ retreat, doesn’t it? Wary 
relatives and friends have dubbed it Match-haven. 
Perhaps you are going there to visit,” the girl 
ventured in eager hope. 

“I? There is no such glittering prospect before 
me. I stole a few days for a conference in Boston 
and when I get home I shall be in work up to my 
ears. Let’s go down the trail. I saw a log house 

9 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

near the track. It is my best bet that it is a cabin 
belonging to a man I know. If it is I can get into 
it and if we get in we will find it liberally supplied 
with eats. We will have supper alter which we’ll 
organize into a Ways and Means Committee of 
two. Take your hat and give me the dog. If we 
put him down he may run away and get lost. The 
rascal deserves to be thrashed for getting you into 
this scrape/^ 

The color stole back into the girl’s face as she 
protested gaily : 

Thrashed! How like a man. Poor doggins 
fared forth on his own great adventure. You didn't 
ask us to butt in, did you, Sweetie-peach?” she 
crooned to the spaniel before she relinquished him. 
She gave an occasional backward glance at the 
darkening forest as she followed close at her guide's 
heels, 

Near the bank of a tumbling, foam-flecked stream 
a log house snuggled between two towering pines. 
It was neither sinister nor forbidding; it looked to 
be the last word in sylvan comfort. The man 
groped under the wooden step in front and with a 
relieved, “ I thought so!'' produced a key. He in¬ 
serted it in a padlock and opened the door. 

The girl peered in cautiously. The spaniel 
sniffed suspiciously. The one room was clean and 
dry. The built-in bunks were piled high with fresh- 
10 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 

cut balsam boughs which emitted a spicy fragrance. 
There was a table and three deep, roomy chairs of 
the type designed for the fire-worshiper. In the 
fireplace once-split birch logs lay ready for light¬ 
ing. An open; door in the rmr showed a well- 
stocked wood-shed. The man stood aside for the 
girl to enter. As she hesitated he smiled down upon 
her. 

^‘Welcome to our city!” Then as she stepped 
into the cabin he suggested, We’ll draw lots as to 
who shall light the fire and who shall forage for 
eats. For some reasons it is a pity that we weren’t 
marooned at a station, but we shall be a lot more 
comfortable here.” 

Why did the train stop? When it pulled up I 
went to the platform for a breath of this glorious 
air. Just as I was about to inquire what had de¬ 
layed us I saw the dog, dashed after him and— 
here we are. I feel like Goldilocks in the House of 
the Three Bears. There are three bunks and three 
chairs. Hunt in the cupboard for the porridge, 
which should be steaming on the table, while I 
touch a match to those shavings,” she suggested as 
she dropped to her knees by the hearth. 

The train stopped for a hot box. The place is 
a repair station of sorts.” The man’s muffled ex¬ 
planation oozed from the depth of the cupboard. 

We are playing in luck—Goldilocks. Here is tea, 
11 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


condensed milk, canned corned beef, fifty-seven 
varieties of cra«kers and candles to burn. We’ll 
take wbat we need and leave money to pay Father 
Bear.” He deposited the supplies on the table and 
seized a shining tin pail. I’ll go for water while 
you prepare the collation.” 

He left the door ajar as he went out. When he 
returned the fire was casting fantastic shadows on 
the walls. The spaniel lay stretched on his side, his 
back within comfortable toasting distance of the 
blazing logs. He opened one eye as his rescuer en¬ 
tered, thumped on the floor languidly with his tail, 
drew a prolonged sigh and relapsed into the arms 
of Morpheus. The table was set with cups and 
dishes. A tin dipper full of ferns served as a cen¬ 
trepiece. Candles stuck in bottles flickered deco- 
ratively. 

^‘Behold the festal effect,” laughed the girl as 
the man halted on the threshold. What happened 
to you? Your shoes are wet and muddy. Did you 
fall into the stream? ” 

The lines between his brows deepened at the 
question. No, I did a little investigating, I told 
you that I thought I had been here before. I came 
hunting with a fri—a man but we approached the 
cabin through the woods back of it. You’ve trans¬ 
formed the place. The home-making fairy with the 
shining wings must have endowed you royally.” 

12 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


As lie filled the kettle with water and swung the 
crane over a heap of red coals he hunmied softly: 

“ ^ You remind me of my mother, 

My mother was a lot like you, 

So many little things you do, 

I find . . / 

‘‘ Go on,” the girl commanded as he stopped. I 
love to hear a man sing.” 

Don’t you sing? ” 

No, I whistle.” 

She breathed a few soft notes, whistled a trill 
like the call of a bird to its mate, rninore, more 
experimental trills, a fragment of a dance, then the 
notes of his song: 

‘‘You remind me of my mother-” 

She broke off with a laugh and a little curtsey. 
Good Lord, I should say that you could whistle. 
I heard that song in a musical comedy last night 
and the refrain has been phonographing in my head 
ever since you boarded the train this morning.” 

Then you had seen me before I did my spectacu¬ 
lar dash-for-a-dog act? ” 

I had. Will Mademoiselle be seated? ” 

He drew out one of the chairs with a grandiloquent 
French-waitery bow. As the kettle began to purr 
13 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


lie made a cup of tea wliicli he deposited in front of 
her with a flourish. He abandoned his stage-centre 
manner and took the chair opposite. He cut a piece 
of the corned beef and presented it on a tin plate. 

I am not hungry. I had rather plan what we 
are to do next than eat/’ the girl protested. 

Nothing doing. No supper, no plan. Drink the 
tea, eat that meat and the crackers. I refuse to 
discuss ways and means during this festive meal. 
Let’s pretend that a taxi outside is gobbling our 
cash-on-hand while waiting to take us to the next 
station. Be a good little spoH, forget our predica¬ 
ment and tell me what you meant by Managing 
Martha and Match-haven. Methinks the lady 
across the table beareth a grudge against her au¬ 
gust aunt, what? ” 

The girl dimpled in delighted appreciation of his 
raillery. Her skin was rosy from the fire, tiny curls 
lay moistly against the nape of her white neck, her 
eyes had the velvety softness of purple pansies as 
she answered: 

^^Do you insist upon hearing the story of my 

young life? ^ Then listen my child-’ My father 

is a clergyman in a country town. He is a darling 
but he belongs between book-covers, not in this 
hustling world. I am the youngest of his six 
daughters, his boy, he calls me, perhaps because I 
whistle. Mother’s sister married a man of enor- 
14 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


mous wealth. She is a widow now and as she has no 
children she just naturally tries out her theories 
on her nieces.” 

Managing Martha accounted for. Match- 
haven? ” 

That stands for the worst phase of her manag¬ 
ing. Somehow, somewhere she was bitten with the 
matchmaking mania, only she calls it astrology. 
She apparently believes that if marriages are made 
in heaven she is a divinely appointed earthly 
deputy. Three years ago she bought a glorious 
summer home and she adds an additional pearl to 
her rope for every matrimonial engagement which 
materializes under that roof. Gumnan stuff. A 
notch for every victim, see? As her pearls are the 
size of able-bodied peas she hands herself some 
bonus. That is why we call the place Match-haven.” 

The man threw back his head and shouted with 
laughter. The girl regarded him with stormy 
eyes. 

You wouldn’t think it such a huge joke if you 
were one of her victims.” 

^^Are you? ” 

have been summoned for the sacrifice; the 
command was camouflaged by an invitation. The 
high priestess has taken us girls one at a time. 
IS'ever before have I been invited to Shorehaven. I 
am the last of her Lorraine nieces unmarried. Do 
15 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


you wonder that I detest Clearwater and everything 
connected with it? ’’ 

‘^You don’t mean that she hit the matrimonial 
bull’s-eye five times in one family? ” 

I do. She did. Her successes are spread over 
a period of ten years. I don’t wonder that you are 
incredulous. Aunt Martha claims that by studying 
the horoscopes of her victims she has brought the 
right persons together. I claim that my sisters 
were easy marks. As children they contracted 
every disease to which they were exposed. What 
could be expected when they were plucked from a 
manless, small-town atmosphere and flung into a 
heaven of luxury which teemed with eligible males? 
They caught love as they would a cold. How Aunt 
Martha is concentrating on me, Mittle Julie, the 
last of the Lorraine girls,’ ” she quoted with a the¬ 
atrical sigh. 

Then she warns you of her dark and dour de¬ 
sign. I call that sporting of her.” 

If you persist in chuckling about it-” 

won’t. I promise. Go on. Who is to be 
wished on you? ” 

Her late lamented’s nephew. I understand that 
he is a charmer with thirty birthdays to his credit, 
has innumerable female scalps dangling from his 
belt and that he is the remainder-man or ultimate 
consumer of the Marshall fortune. As the stars 
16 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


ordain that this is his year as well as mine to slip 
into double harness Aunt Martha has cannily de¬ 
cided to keep the money in the family. August and 
September being the open season for engagements 
here I am on my way to Shorehaven.’’ 

Is the nephew such a poor fish that he can’t 
select his own wife? ” 

Don’t growl. You are not being lured into the 
spider’s parlor.” 

Why are you walking into it? ” 

At his tone a tint of color crept to the girl’s hair. 
She threw a cracker to the spaniel who, head tilted, 
tongue hanging, tail thumping the floor, sat up and 
begged. She kept her eyes on the dog as she ex¬ 
plained : 

‘^Partly for the thrill of defying Destiny—^for 
Destiny see Managing Martha—even when I was a 
child she infuriated me. She was kind, she was 
generous but oh, so bossy. Now that I am older 
and ought to know better, if I find her on one side 
of a question I just naturally take the other. She 
can’t forgive my sense of humor which I inherit 
from Mother.” 

Was to defy Destiny your only reason for com¬ 
ing? ” 

^^You have missed your vocation. You should 
be Inquisitor-in-Chief for a detective agency.” 

She wrinkled her nose in laughing friendly de- 
17 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


rision and crossed lier arms on the table. As she 
leaned toward him the candle-light made a nimbus 
of gold about her head. The laughter had gone 
from her voice; there was a tiny crease of deter¬ 
mination on her brow as she answered his question: 

I came to get possession of myself. I suppose a 
man can't understand what that means. As my 
sisters have married, their duties at home—Aunt 
Martha has supplied any number of servants but 
they won’t stay in our small town—^their classes, 
their charities have fallen back upon me until I, 
the real I, have been buried as deep as poor King 
Tut. I have been at the beck and call of the parish. 
^Julie’ll do it!’ has quite unconsciously become 
the family and village slogan. So when Mother’s 
cousin wrote that she would be glad to live with 
us and help for her board, I seized her offer as a 
submerged person would a rope and accepted Aunt 
Martha’s invitation.” 

Only to drop into a matrimonial sea of trou¬ 
ble? ” 

^‘Ko. While I am at Shorehaven I shall think 
only of myself. I shall not sacrifice myself for any¬ 
one, I shall consider first my welfare, my pleasure, 
my happiness.” 

Were you thinking only of yourself when you 
dashed after the dog? You’ve made a great start 
on your all-for-self program.” 

18 


EEEE COME^ TEE ^UN ! 


Slie colored ricMy as slie met liis quizzical eyes. 

I forgot for an instant, but it won^t happen 
again/’ 

Did your mother want you to come? Does she 
approve of your marrying for money? Does your 
father? ” 

For money? Haven’t I told you that the man 
is attractive? Mother adores Dad but she has spent 
her life as the link between two ends of an income 
which couldn’t be made to meet. Can you wonder 
if she hopes that I will fall in love with someone 
who can provide a checking account which will re¬ 
semble the widow’s cruse? I wanted to take a 
business course but I have been needed at home. 
However, Mother’s hopes will be blasted. I can 
converse in three languages, I have been brought 
up on the classics, housework and the Ladies’ Aid, 
but when it comes to talking to a man under sixty, 
my mind collapses like a pricked balloon.” 

Good Lord, you don’t think me sixty or over, 
do you? ” 

How subtle! I have been garrulous but you see 
before you the new Julie Lorraine rising Phoenix¬ 
like from the ashes of the old Julie. I have prom¬ 
ised Mother that I will be as nice to Aunt Martha 
as is humanly possible, that I will accept whatever 
she wants to give me. Heretofore I have snubbed 
her whenever she has tried to be generous, so natu- 
19 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


rally she stopped trying. IS'ever has she sent me a 
frock before this. I have worn hand-me-downs. 
Now I am wearing a Martharine and see what I 
have done to it! ’’ She held up her hands and re¬ 
garded her torn frills with laughing consternation. 

^^What is a Martharine? First cousin to a 
Worth or a Doucet? 

^^Now I know where your women friends get 
their clothes. We girls coined the word for Aunt 
Martha’s gifts. My frock is a Martharine, my 
shoes, what there is left of them, are Martharines.” 

If you so hate hand-me-downs why isn’t your 
aunt’s plan a dispensation of providence? ” 

Because I don’t intend to marry at present. I 
am afraid of love. Love smashes friendship be¬ 
tween a man and a girl. When I promised Mother 
that I would be nice to Aunt Martha, it was with 
reservations. I shall hesitate at nothing to combat 
her match-making. I refuse to be horoscoped into 
a pearl for her string. If I find that I am falling 
under her spell—don’t laugh, her success is un¬ 
canny—I shall run away with Billy.” 

'' Who is Billy? ” 

William Jaifrey, the novelist.” 

Billy Jafirey? ” 

Yes. He has been my pal since our Dutch-cut 
days. Then and ever since on his vacations I have 
tagged adoringly at his heels eager to show that I 
20 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


was of as stem stuff as he. He was a relentless 
taskmaster and an ardent believer in the survival 
of the fittest. He taught me to swim, to handle 
boats, to climb trees, to ride, to drive his car.” 

Hasn’t Jaffrey sufficient money and reputation 
to satisfy your aunt? ” 

Her eyes glimmered with mischief as she whis¬ 
pered dramatically: 

“ The planets are against our union! ” She re¬ 
laxed into a conversational tone. Aunt. Martha 
adores Billy. He spends part of each summer with 
her, but she has warned him that he is not to park 
his heart in my vicinity. Neither he nor I had 
thought of sentiment but now—^you never can 
tell!” She sighed theatrically. Her lips curved 
with laughter. 

Are you in love with Jaffrey? ” 

She met his stern eyes indignantly. Of course 
not. I shall not sacrifice my freedom for anyone. 
^ Julie won’t do it! ’ is my present slogan. My life 
has been spent in a country town. Now I have 
fared forth to link arms with those irresistible 
twins, Komance and Adventure.” 

You said that you were afraid of romance.” 

Love, man, love. I am looking for the romance 
of business, of politics, for the dragon-slayers, the 
imprisoned princesses, the sleeping beauties, the 
wicked dragons, the fairy-godmothers of real life, 
21 


HERE COMES THE SUN / 


not for romance for myself. Dad lias brought me 
up to believe that if I once succumb it is for life. 
He believes that marriage should be entered into 
solemnly, advisedly, only through a great love or a 
great purpose.’^ 

A purpose? ” 

Yes. He would be in full sympathy with a 
princess who formed an alliance to save her heri¬ 
tage. He is a ^ Eight or wrong. My Country! ’ 
American. He had so hoped for a son. When his 
sixth daughter came he determined to give her the 
training he would give a boy. I learned Lincoln's 
Gettysburg speech as soon as I learned my prayers 
and I was brought up on Webster^s orations. 
Mother, fearing that Dad would make me into an 
unbearable infant prodigy, stuffed my mind and 
imagination with fairy-tales and saved her child.’’ 

What is the nephew’s name? ” 

“ Are you back to him again? What persistence! 
Dallas Carfax Second. Sounds like a boat, doesn’t 
it?” 

You may love Carfax. He may make you love 
him.” 

Julie rose with a suddenness which sent her chair 
backward with a crash. 

You are siding with Aunt Martha. It serves me 
right for confiding in you, a stranger. I suppose I 
did it because of your reference to your mother, 
22 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


possibly because you bave a tinge of Dad’s cry-it- 
out-on-my-sboulder manner. You seemed own- 
folksy, almost as though we had been friends in a 
previous incarnation. I deserve to be disillusioned 
for-” 

Her voice caught. Her eyes widened as she 
leaned toward him and warned: 

Don’t move! Keep on listening and laugh! 
Laugh! There is a red, shiny-faced man looking 
in the window behind you! His eyes are bleak, his 
expression is dev-devilish! L-look at the dog! ” she 
whispered hoarsely as the black spaniel ruffed his 
coat and gave vent to a nerve-rasping howl. 


23 



CHAPTER II 


The man was at the door before she had finished 
speaking. 

Who^s there? ’’ he called sharply. There was 
no sound outside save the splash of the stream and 
a faint distant rumble. 

Come away from the door! Please! He’s 
gone; he vanished like a hoodoo.” The girl’s eyes 
blazed with excitement. Her breath came as 
though she had been running. The man closed the 
door and slid the bolt. His tone was reassuring 
as he suggested: 

The poor chap was doubtless a native who knew 
the place and thought he’d get in out of the storm 
which is rolling up.” 

“ A storm! Then we must get away at once. 
Hurry,” Julie urged breathlessly as she began to 
clear the table. The man replaced tins and boxes 
without answering. They worked silently and 
swiftly. As the last dish was put in place a thun¬ 
derous rumble bumped from hilltop to hilltop. The 
wind began to whisper sibilant little secrets down 
the stone chimney, the windows rattled an eerie an¬ 
swer. The girl peered out into the night. There 
was a crimson streak in the west but overhead the 
sky was black. 


24 


HEBE COMEB THE SUN / 


We must get away from here/’ she persisted. 

Where shall we go? There is no train north 
until morning. One goes south at midnight hut 
what should we gain by taking that? I know this 
region and I know that there isn’t a house within 
ten miles and that one is on the old lumber road 
which runs through the woods back of this cabin. 
I came over it once in an automobile but it would 
be suicide to try to walk it with this storm coming. 
A giant tree is likely to be struck or uprooted at 
any moment. I shan’t consent to your trying it.” 

But you don’t mean—^you can’t mean that you 
expect me to spend the night here with-” 

JSTot necessarily. I will build up the fire, pile a 
lot of logs in this room for you and leave you, if 
you wish.” A blinding flash turned the windows 
to molten sheets. A thunderous rumble shook the 
cabin. 

Leave me alone with that awful man prowling 
round? I wouldn’t stay.” 

Then we will make the best of it and remain 
here. Life is bigger than conventions. Goldilocks. 
Had we been caught in this predicament in France 
during the war we should have taken it as part of 
the day’s work.” 

But we are neither in France nor at war.” The 
girl’s violet eyes were black as she defied him. She 
pulled her soft hat low over her fair hair and picked 
25 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


up tlie dog who cowered whining at her feet. I 
shall walk to the next station on the track. If you 
are afraid you need not come.^’ 

Julie-’’ 

Don’t call me Julie! Why, I don’t even know 
your name and it is only a few minutes since we 
met.” 

He pulled out his watch. It is just three hours, 
thirty minutes and twenty-seven seconds since you 
left the Pullman. You might have met me at social 
affairs for months and by your own confession not 
known me as well as you know me now.” 

You’re right. We are terribly old acquaint¬ 
ances; call me anything you like, but I am going 
on. Stop squirming, Sweetie-peach,” she re¬ 
proached the spaniel in her arms. As she pulled 
open the door a flash of lightning split the sky. 

^^You are an obstinate silly little girl, but of 
course I am going with you. Wait until I bank the 
fire.” As she stepped outside he refilled the kettle 
and threw on some logs. He blew out the candles 
and closed the door behind him. 

The streak of brilliant color in the west which 
had supplied a faint light faded as the man and 
girl reached the track. A cloud shook out a few 
drops of rain and scuttled on. There was a lantern 
in a chest under the signal box. With some diffi¬ 
culty the man lighted it. 

26 



HERE GOME^ THE SUN ! 


We’ll keep to tke track, tken we shall be in no 
danger from blow-downs. Give me the dog. The 
wind is rising and yon will have all you can do to 
walk without carrying him. I wish you had a 
coat.” 

“ Mine went on in the Pullman with one perfectly 
good week-end case.” The voice was the boyishly, 
friendly voice of the girl in the cabin. The man 
drew a quick breath of relief. 

Don’t hurry. We have all the time there is. 
Take the lantern. This dog weighs tons. Your 
‘ Sweetie-peach ’ is a snuffling, whining nuisance, 
but if I put him down he may get lost and we’ve got 
to stand by him now.” 

With a flash and a crash and a roar the wind 
furies snapped their leash and the storm broke. It 
tore its way through the tall timber on either side 
of the road bed, it ju-jutsued trees till they creaked 
in agony. It uprooted one which fell with a human 
groan. The rain descended in white sheets. The 
wet tracks glittered like gory snakes in the red 
light from the lantern. For perhaps ten minutes 
the man and girl struggled on. Then, as with a 
shriek nine parts demon and one part banshee the 
wind flung Julie against her companion, she 
clutched his arm. She put her mouth close to 
his ear as he bent his head to hear what she was 
saying. 


27 


HERE GOMES TEE SUN I 


“ I give in. You were right. Let’s go back to the 
cabin if—^we can.” 

He nodded approval and shouted back: We can 
make it. Hold tight to my coat. This confounded 
dog wriggles so it takes both arms to hold him. 
Swing the lantern so that it will shine on the track. 
That’s right! Come on! ” 

The gale raged. The rain turned to pelting, 
stinging hail. After what seemed eons of time the 
dim outline of the cabin took shape in the dark¬ 
ness. The windows glow.ed softly. 

Oh, we can’t go in! Someone is there! ” Julie 
whispered. 

The man dropped the dog and steadied the girl 
with an arm about her shoulders as a cold, playful 
mile-a-second zephyr flung her against him. 

It is the light from the fire. Goldilocks. I piled 
on the logs. I thought we might come back.” 

As he flung open the door the warm balsam- 
scented air rushed to meet them, the fire blazed 
cheerily, the kettle sang boisterously. The black 
spaniel dashed in and shook himself vigorously. 
Glistening drops sprayed from his wet coat like 
sparks from an acetylene welder. 

If only I could do that,” Julie laughed as she 
looked down at her dripping frock. The rain had 
beaten the hair about her face into tiny tendrils. 
She shivered and approached the fire. After an in- 
28 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! . 

swathed about her and belted with the cord. She 
doubled and redoubled the long sleeves until her 
bands were free. Her bair bung in two braids wbicb 
curled at tbe ends. Her cbeeks were deeply flushed, 
her eyes brilliant with excitement.. She tested her 
shoes. They were still wet. She crossed the room 
in her silk-stocldnged feet and knocked on the wood¬ 
shed door. 

The man who opened it seemed to loom above 
her. He had substituted a leather hunting jacket 
for his wet coat. The spaniel bristled and growled 
at the girl, then jumped on her in apologetic frenzy. 
As she dropped into a big chair near the hearth the 
dog snuggled into her lap. Her companion seated 
himself opposite and began to fill his pipe. 

You look like an ammunition ad,’’ Julie 
laughed. 

I wish that I had a cigarette. I don’t smoke 
them but I suppose that you-” 

Didn’t I tell you that I was mid-Victorian? I 
neither smoke, drink nor—nor pet.” 

What have I done that you should feel it neces¬ 
sary to add that last? ” 

‘^l^othing! !Not one littlest thing! You have 
been an angel when it is my fault that we landed in 
this mix-up. And it is a mix-up. Aunt Martha 
will be horrified and Mother—^well, Mother won’t 
like it much.” 


30 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


stant^s frowning concentration the man stuck his 
fingers between two logs in the wall and produced a 
key. 

I thought that I remembered where the owner 
kept it/’ he observed as he unlocked a chest under 
the window. He pulled out some blankets, then 
produced a woolly dressing-gown. Take off that 
wet Martharine and put this on,” he commanded in 
a tone which proclaimed that he was prepared to 
assist in carrying out his orders if necessity arose. 
A faint smile flashed behind the weariness in the 
girl’s eyes. 

“ Sheathe your sword. I surrender. Of course I 
will get out of these wet things. I am not quite 
without common sense even if my previous actions 
so indicate.” 

‘‘‘ Good girl. While you change Sweetie-peach 
and I will dry our wet coats at the oil-stove in the 
wood-shed, at the same time we investigate the 
fuel supply. When you want us, knock.” 

As he closed the door the girl pulled off her drip¬ 
ping frock and spread it over a chair within the 
heat’s radius. She stuffed her shoes with bark 
which she peeled from logs in the big wood-box. In 
her heliotrope slip she crouched near the fire. She 
let down her hair and fluffed it in the heat. In an 
unbelievably short time she was warm to the mar¬ 
row. She slipped into the bath-robe which she 
29 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

“ You liave forgotten to mention Jaffrey’s reac¬ 
tions.’’ 

“ Billy will think it a joke, just a huge joke. I 
can hear him chuckle as he inquires solicitously, 
‘You never had any use for that look-before-you- 
leap stuff, had you, Marble-heart? ’ ” 

“ Marble-heart? ” 

“ That is Billy’s foolish name for ma As I told 
you men and boys bore me stiff when they wax 
sentimental-” 

“ Oh, then there are men in that small town from 
which you came ? I got the impression that Jaffrey 
was the only man you knew.” 

She flushed pinkly, thoroughly. 

“ I have met a few at family weddings.” She 
expertly switched the conversation. “After this 
summer I intend to tmin for a secretaryship, then 
when I have learned a great deal I may go into 
politics. 

“ Politics in the best sense of the word, of course. 
I was too young to do much but knit and serve 
coffee during the war but the flags and the music 
and the marching men set a flame of patriotism in 
my hear-t and mind that mounts higher and higher 
as time goes on. I want to do something to help 
my country.” 

“ Then keep out of politics yourself and make a 
home for some embryo politician which will keep 
31 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


his ideas and ideals up to the mark. YouVe got the 
biggest chance in the world right there. Blessed 
are the home-makers for they shall inherit the 
earth/^ he paraphrased gravely. 

Julie regarded him with eyes of tormenting 
amethyst. “ That remark smacks of the vintage of 
^76. Poor old Eip Van Winkle! Has he been 
asleep for the last twenty years? ’’ She abandoned 
her tone of mischievous commiseration as she 
clasped her hands on the dog's black back and 
stared into the red coals. Her voice was grave as 
she admitted: 

Billy may think this predicament a joke but it 
isn't. Do you ever get into a mix-up that makes 
you say ^ Darn!' every time you think of it? " 

I'll say I do, biit I employ a more torrid ex¬ 
clamation." 

A crash shook the cabin. The dog whined and 
burrowed his nose under the girl's arm. Her face 
whitened but she smiled valiantly at her companion 
as she admitted: 

I don't like being in a cabin between two high 
pines in a storm like this. Please talk, talk fast so 
that I will forget it. Don't you mind, Sweetie- 
peach, Julie'll take care of you," she quieted the 
spaniel as she stroked his silky ears. 

Pipe in hand, knees comfortably crossed, the man 
leaned back in his chair and smiled at her. 

32 


EERE COME^ THE SUN ! 

What shall I talk about? ’’ 

‘'Anything, everything. Tell me the story of 
your life. I have told you mine.’’ 

"It is hardly interesting enough to make you 
forget the storm, but I’ll do my best. I am James 
Tralford, a hard-working mill-owner, the descend¬ 
ant of that First Trafford who landed in Plymouth 
with a shilling in his pocket, sapphires in his belt 
and a lady under his arm.” 

" A lady! ” 

" To be more exact the portrait of a lady. A 
regal creature with sapphires in her fair hair, 
sapphires at her ears, a great sapphire on her 
finger, sapphires fastening her blue and gold bodice 
and a King Charles spaniel under one arm.” 

" Go on! Who was she? ” 

" A Duchess evidently, but who she was or what 
she was to the First Trafford—^we have acquired 
the habit of capitalizing him—or why he had her 
jewels no one knows. After he landed he married 
a girl who came over in the same ship. They drifted 
to Maine, only it wasn’t Maine then—and he 
started a mill and after a while lived in a sort of 
feudal state. His son enlarged the mill and his 
grandson abandoned the first building with its big 
wheel and started a woolen mill. It was during 
the middle-age of the next generation that the first 
part of the portrait prophecy came true.” 

33 


HERE C0ME8 THE SUN 7 


Propliecy! Go on! You’ve missed your voca¬ 
tion. You should he a writer of mystery stories. 
Your technique is superb. When I am not holding 
my breath in suspense my teeth are chattering in 
apprehension. You are not inventing a fairy-tale, 
are you, to help me forget this horrid storm and 
that awful man? She covered her ears with her 
hands as the lightning cracked like a pistol shot 
and the thunder seemed bent on ripping up the 
ridge-pole. Trafford’s smile was like a steadying 
grip of the hand as he affirmed: 

It is the cross-my-heart-an’-hope-to-die truth 
I’m telling you.” 

What was the prophecy? ” 

He leaned his head against the back of the com¬ 
fortable chair and frowned up at the roof. 

It is printed in curious old script on the back 
of the portrait and goes something like this: 

‘Deep into the dark, damp earth 
Bury the sapphires of the Duchess faire, 

And after many days they will blaze forth 
Attended by three shining knights, 

Wealth, Love and Fame, 

Full panoplied.’ ” 

‘‘And were the jewels buried?” 

“ Figuratively. They were sold by a black sheep 
who is Imown as the Mad Trafford in the family 
34 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 

annals. The proceeds were used to finance a cop¬ 
per-mine. His interpretation of the prophecy he- 
ing, evidently, that invested in the earth the jewels 
would insure the success of the venture.^' 

'' Did they? ” 

^‘Ho. T ^ 1 the investor’s aged father discov¬ 
ered wha ^ a been done with the family jewels 
he cursed Li n and dramatically invoked the 
spirit of the L u.chess to haunt the steps of the Mad 
Trafford until the jewels were returned. The story 
of the curse spread like fire in dry grass. After a 
while men refused to work in the mine—there had 
been but a few pockets of copper there, anyway— 
and to this day there is considerable superstition in 
the county in regard to the roaming Duchess.” 

‘‘Don’t stop! I’m shivering with excitement. 
Then the sapphires never have been found? ” 

“No. No information could be secured as to 
where they were sold. They were exquisitely set. 
I am having them duplicated. Mother and I de¬ 
cided that the restoration of the sapphires would 
go a long way toward downing the silly stories 
which keep cropping up about the royal lady. Ex¬ 
cept for the Mad Trafford my ancestors have been 
decent, high-principled, hard-working mill-owners. 
Despotic, perhaps, but honest and just. It is curi¬ 
ous what an influence background has upon one. 
I’ve seen men plunge into glittering dissipation, 
35 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


IVe been cauglit in what seemed blind-alleys of 
temptation but something has strengthened my 
power of resistance. Perhaps it was the hand of 
some God-fearing, ideal-worshiping Traiford on my 
shoulder.” 

Your voice gives the impressir i regret 

the fact that you have not folio ire.” 

Then it lies. Perhaps the i egret was 

because I realize that I am confou^^ y conserva¬ 
tive. I should like once to do something unusual 
in an unusual way. But I shan't. As I grow older 
I shall follow in the footsteps of my grandfather. 
What is there about :N'ew England that breeds re¬ 
pression into one? ” 

I can't answer that question because my limited 
experiences with New Englanders has been the re¬ 
verse. Mother was an F. F. from Massachusetts, 
Dad an F. F. from California—that makes me Mid¬ 
dle West, doesn't it—curiously enough the two have 
exchanged coastal characteristics. Mother has an 
irrepressible sense of humor; the world and its 
problems gnaw unceasingly at the domine's heart. 
I am forever bubbling with enthusiasm. I'm the 
original obey-that-impulse! Dad would approve of 
you. He claims that when a man resists tempta¬ 
tion he is building character for future generations. 
Tell me more about yourself. Of course you were 
in the service? ” 


36 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


I am sound and thirty; that answers that ques¬ 
tion. My father was an only son. He died when 
I was a boy of wounds received in the Spanish- 
American War. I spent my summers with Grand¬ 
father. Before I went overseas he told me that he 
hoped that I would carry on the mill, that I would 
live part of the year, at least, in Brick House, the 
Trafford homestead, that I would help to make the 
town my ancestor had founded a factor in good 
government. But, whatever I decided, everything 
he had was to be mine when he got through.’’ 

He leaned forward to rap his pipe on the hearth. 
The firelight shone on his fine head, gilded the faint 
touch of white in his black hair at the temples. 
He frowningly regarded the blazing logs as he con¬ 
tinued : 

Grandfather lived till I came back from the war, 
then his heart stopped. Good Lord, how I hated to 
take on that mill! I had other plans, other am¬ 
bitions, but I was the last of the name. I had to 
carry on or the plant would have gone to the scrap- 
heap. That would have meant hundreds out of em¬ 
ployment.” 

Will you have to keep it always? ” 

^^Your sympathetic tone is undeserved. I like 
it now. I like my work. I am proud of the people 
of my county, a people who have been trained to 
overcome difficulties. The war struck a spark in 
37 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


my heart which the disillusionment of the last few 
years can’t snuff out. I am deep in politics. I am 
a nominee to defeat Cheever, our present state sen¬ 
ator. I believe that he is a tragic example of a 
brainy college man of good family gone wrong.” 

his constituents think that and vote for 

him?” 

Of course not. Most of them think him a won¬ 
der. The voters are tremendously excited by our 
contest. I think that they are trying to be abso¬ 
lutely fair.” 

Are you friends? ” 

^^We were when I si)ent my summers here. 
Cheever is eight years older than I. He was nomi¬ 
nated on one ticket, I on the other at the state pri¬ 
maries in June. He is a good mixer. I suspect 
conditions—oh, well, I’m not talking about that. I 
shall win this fight on my own merit, not on the 
other man’s demerits.” 

That is an excellent policy if your opponent 
plays fair too. Does he? ” 

'^Ho. I am convinced that if he could find a 
thread of evidence against me he would weave it 
into a cloak of iniquity. He has it in for me for 
another reason than this senatorial fight” 

Is the other reason a girl? ” 

Trafford rose and leaned his arm on the slab of 
granite which served as a mantel. 

as 


HERE C0ME8 THE SUN ! 


Yes—in a way. Cheever pretends to be in love 
with my mother’s ward who has money and an in¬ 
ordinate ambition which I am sure does not stop 
this side of the White Housa Neither Mother nor 
I believe in his sincerity. He knows that but he 
haunts Brick House just the same.” 

Is she in love with you? ” 

“ Good Lord, no. What put such an idea into 
your head? ” 

Hoes he think that she is? ” 

How do I Imow what he thinks? ” 

You’re wriggling. He does. In that case you 
had better prepare to fight him with his own 
weapons.” 

“ Not until I am back against the wall, and not 
even then. The newspapers are full of smudged 
political reputations. There is not much incentive 
for the boys growing up to serve their country. The 
men and women in my employ are behind me. It’s 
a heart-thumping sensation to realize that hundreds 
of persons are looking to one for leadership; it 
makes one feel like an old-time patriarch. I shall 
beat Cheever with bare hands. I shall use no brass 
knuckles or stuffed clubs or defamation though I 
don’t trust him. I can’t prove it, I don’t want to— 
yet, but I believe him to be tricky, irresponsible.” 

Julie laughed up at him with friendly eyes. She 
applauded softly: 


39 


HERE GOME^ THE SUN ! 


Here! Here! All you need, Mr. Senator, is a 
hand thrust into your shirt-front and you’d be 
Webster replying to Hayne to the life, only you are 
younger and infinitely better-looking than the ora¬ 
torical Dan,” she teased. ‘^Is this scurvy politi¬ 
cian - Oh-o-o! ” 

She sprang to her feet as a crash shook the cabin 
till its rafters chattered. Its Siamese twin sent a 
tree outside crashing to earth and sent her straight 
to Trafford. As his arms closed about her she 
buried her head against his shoulder. He rested 
his face against her fair hair as he encouraged: 

It will be over in a minute. Goldilocks. You 
are safe-” 

The cabin door was flung open and banged shut. 

Good God! I thought that pine would get me! ” 
panted the man who leaned against the door as 
though exhausted. 

Julie twisted herself free from the arms which 
had unconsciously tightened about her.' She tried 
to silence the spaniel who added to the din without 
by barking shrilly at the intruder. She stared at 
the drenched figure with hat pulled low before she 
confided in a laughing whisper which caught in 
her throat: 

“ Enter Father B-Bear! ” 

But her companion was neither looking at her 
nor listening to her. He was staring at the in- 
40 




HERE COME^ THE EUN ! 

trader. The teme silence sponged the color from 
the girPs face. Her eyes widened in dawning com¬ 
prehension as she looked from the man beside her 
to the man who had pushed back his dripping hat 
and stood as though carved in bas-relief against the 
door. A slow smile stretched his thin mouth. 
Trafford reddened darkly as he explained lightly: . 

Cheever, as you see, we have taken refuge in 
your cabin from the storm.’^ 

The man took a step forward. His glance flicked 
from the frock drying before the fire, to the pile of 
blankets on the floor by the open chest, to the 
girl. 

I’m glad you made yourselves comfortable, Jim. 
Sorry that I butted in at an inopportune moment. 

Had I suspected a rendezvous-” 

He bowed with exaggerated formality to Julie. 
Even her lips went white. The spaniel kept up a 
rumbling growl. The significance in the smirking 
tone thickened the veins on Trafford’s forehead. 
He clenched his hands behind him but his voice was 
in control as he protested : 

“ Don’t be a darned fool and turn accident into 
melodrama, Cheever. We jumped from the train 
to rescue this dog who escaped from the baggage- 
car and the infernal thing went on without us.” 

Your dog? ” Then as neither answered he 
laughed. “It’s a bully story. I wonder if your 
41 



HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


constituents in the clean, anti-mud-slinging cam¬ 
paign will believe it—I wonder? ” 

^‘Believe it! Why should they care anything 
about it, except as a humorous incident—unless 
you—you-” 

Better save your ammunition for the campaign, 
Jim. You’ll need it, believe you me. I’ve got you 
where I want you. I’ve got you there.” He drew 
up the fingers of one hand like vicious claws. 
“ You’ve started to beat me at the polls, you think 
I’m not a proper person to represent—oh, I know 
you’ve made no charges. I have no such scruples. 
I’ll give the public to understand that never in my 
most riotous days did I indulge in this sort of 
thing.” His words were muddy with inuendo as 
he looked from the man to the girl. 

Trafford’s face was livid with fury. ‘‘ You know 
that my explanation is true, Cheever, and by God 
before you leave this cabin you are going to admit 
it.” 

Cheever shrugged and lighted a cigarette. Am 
I? I wonder. I’ll trade. Promise to step out of 
the senatorial fight, make your mother withdraw 

her opposition to me, and-” 

Is that all? And if I don’t?” Trafford took 
a menacing step forward, his fists clenched. 

“I’ll spread a version of this cabin episode 
that will take the rest of your life and the girl’s 
42 




HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

to contradict. YouVe got to clioose and choose 
quick.’’ 

With a rasping sob which she juggled into a 
laugh Julie Lorraine caught one of Trafford’s 
clenched hands in hers. She leaned her head 
against his arm and defiantly regarded Cheever 
before she smiled up into the blazing eyes above her 
and inquired: 

What is all this riot about, Jim? Doesn’t the 
silly person at the door know that we are mar¬ 
ried? ” 


43 


CHAPTER III 


The quiet which, followed the girFs breathless 
questions was like the still instant which precedes 
the bursting of a shell. Even the spaniel held his 
breath. A burned log in the fireplace crumbled 
and fell. The sound broke the spell. 

Julie!” 

At Trafford^s hoarse protest the blank surprise 
on the face of the man at the door shifted to skep¬ 
tical insolence. He glanced at the ringless left 
hand which clutched Trafford’s arm. With a 
seventeenth century flourish he swept off his hat. 
The thin spot on top his head shone bravely in the 
firelight as he bent to the waist. 

Congratulations, Miss— Mrs. Trafford.’^ 

With theatrical grace the girl gave an adorable 
imitation of his greeting. 

Merci heaucoup, Monsieur D’Artagnan, I beg 
pardon, Mr. Cheever I should have said, but you are 
so like the irresistible musketeer in your manner 
that-” 

“ That will do, Julie,snapped Trafford. 

Now he will be sure that we are married, Jim. 
If we weren’t you never would growl at me like 
that. Do come nearer your own fire in your own 
44 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


cabin, Mr. Cheever. We won^t bite. Your clothes 
are dripping. You didn’t walk here, did you? ” 

Her solicitous tone narrowed the man’s lids. His 
glance flashed from her to her companion and back 
again before he answered: 

No. I came through the old lumber-road in my 
car. Your—^your liushand knows it. I had planned 
to meet a man here to-morrow. Thought that he 
had arrived first when I saw the place lighted. I 
found Willy Small huddled up in the shed. He 
came over to get the cabin ready. I shall have 
someone to back me up when I spread the news that 
I met you two on your honeymoon.” 

At Trafford’s quick step forward he seized the 
latch of the door behind him. 

Everyone in the village knows that The Traf- 
ford went to Boston, but I’ll say you kept your 
intentions mighty quiet. I wonder if even your 
mother knew it? The girl has turned a clever trick. 
You may find that there are disadvantages in being 
the richest man in the county, Jim. You’d better 
get her to manage your campaign. I’m off to 
spread the joyful news. My business here can go 
to the devil.” 

As he jerked open the door a flash of fire split 
the sky. Trafford sprang for him. The black 
spaniel, mistaking his spring for a new m.ove in the 
game he had been watching, jumped for his sleeve, 
45 


HERE COMES THE SUN / 

caught it and hung kicking and tugging. In that ' 
instant Cheever slammed the door. Trafford made 
a rush for it but the girl slid the bolt and backed 
up against it. The man seized her by the shoulders 
and swung her away. As he jerked open the door 
three derisive blasts of a motor-horn sounded 
weirdly in a lull of the storm. For an instant he 
stared into the blackness then as a jagged streak of 
lightning shredded the heavens he slammed the 
door and bolted it. His e^^es were flames in his 
white face as he demanded: 

What demon prompted you to say that we were 
married? I could have handled Cheever. He is no 
fighter. He’s a consummate bluffer. But now— 
why, why didn’t you stop to think of the conse¬ 
quences?” He hurled the question. The girl’s 
eyes were as turbulent as his as she protested pas¬ 
sionately : 

I did, for once in my life I did. I thought of 
the bleak-eyed man who had stared in at the win¬ 
dow, WTlly Small, I suppose; I thought of the con¬ 
sequences if by accident you killed Cheever here in 
this lonely cabin—^your face was terrible—I 
thought of the consequences to you if he spread a 
story about you and me. If only I hadn’t rushed 
to you when that crash came. I didn’t realize that 
I was doing it, really I didn’t. He accused you of 
an unspeakable thing. You had told me of his 
46 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


enmity, of what you were trying to accomplish. I 
couldn’t endure to think that all you had built with 
consecrated purpose would topple if he attacked 
your reputation.” 

I can take care of my reputation.” 

How about mine? ” 

Good God, do you think I have been raving on 
my own account? I have hoped against hope that 
you would not realize what this might mean for 
you.” 

A ghost of a smile flitted across Julie’s sensitive 
lips. 

I am not so mid-Victorian as that. But we 

are wasting time while Cheever is speeding-” 

She clapped her hands over her ears as there came 
a blinding flash followed by the sound as of a Big 
Bertha being fired over the roof. As the reverbera¬ 
tion rattled away over the tree-tops she opened her 
eyes with a shiver. 

“ I hope that crash shook up Cheever and his 
witness. We must do something to checkmate 
them. I still think I did the only thing possible 
but if I blundered—I’m sorry. Couldn’t we pre¬ 
tend that we were married till after election?” 
Her lips quivered into a smile. The creases be¬ 
tween Trafford’s brows were black streaks. 

'' We could but we won’t. That is part of Chee- 
ver’s game, confound him. If I am married I am 
47 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


out of his way. We’ll defy him. My people ought 
to know me well enough to take my word against 
his lies.” 

But they will be such insidious lies. He will 
capitalize this episode and ruin you.” 

Let him, so long as he does not touch you. I’ll 
make that the condition of dropping out of the 
campaign. He does not know your name-” 

It won’t take him long to find out; he heard you 
call me Julie. It is too late to bargain with him; 
he is on his way now to start his propaganda. 
Don’t let him ruin your career, don’t. Aren’t you 
the dragon-slayer who has fared forth to rescue the 
imprisoned princess whose name is Clean Politics? 
And it isn’t you alone he will ruin. Think of the 
boys who have been looking up to you, believing 
in you. What effect will a scandal have upon 
them? ” 

The veins in Trafford’s temples stood out like 
cords. “ I shall lose them for a time but I will win 
them back. I shall not have you drawn into this 
fight, little girl.” 

I am not a little girl. I am twenty-three years 
old.” 

A smile softened the sternness of the man’s eyes. 

Are you really? Even so you are not old enough 
to take my burdens on your slim shoulders. I want 
you to go home. Take the train that goes through 
48 



HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! 


liere at midnigM. Wire Mrs. Marshall from Port¬ 
land that you have been called back. Vll with¬ 
draw from the fight, but next year—^good Lord, 
nea)t year-” 

“ I won^t go home. I won’t be saved at your ex¬ 
pense. Some of the most earnest men in the coun¬ 
try have visited my father. They have deplored the 
corruptness of politics. They have predicted that, 
unless our native Americans in whose veins should 
flow the instinct of patriotism jump into the ring 
soon, we shall have imported leaders, possibly alien 
leaders. Wouldn’t that be an immeasurable dis¬ 
grace? You can’t pull out! You must go on! I 
realize now that I effectually tied your hands with 
my impulsive declaration. If you denied it you 
accuse me of lying; what could you do but let it 
go ? What did Cheever mean when he said that I 
had turned a clever trick? ” 

Trafford caught her by the shoulders. 

Will you marry me, Julie? ” 

The color scorched to the girl’s hair but her eyes 
met his steadily. 

“ Is that the only way out? ” 

That or for you to go home.’’ 

“ Going home wouldn’t kill the story. Cheever 
would keep it up Ms sleeve for use next year. If 
we can save tke situation by a ceremony wMch can 
be annulled and explained after election I’ll do it. 

49 



HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


How can we manage it? What shall we do next? 
she asked eagerly. 

Trafford turned from her abruptly and pulled 
out his watch. ^‘We can flag the south-bound at 
midnight, go to Portland where I have some in¬ 
fluence, be married there and take the next train 
back. Prom the first station possible well wire 
your aunt that you were delayed just twenty-four 
hours.” The storm which was moving east flashed 
and rumbled an accompaniment to his words. 

As though suddenly exhausted the girl dropped 
into the armchair by the fire. The spaniel jumped 
into her lap, licked her face with his red tongue, 
circled and settled down. There were tears lurking 
behind her smile as she met the gray eyes looking 
down at her. 

Youfll have your heart’s desire. You are about 
to do something unusual in an unusual way. Was 
anyone of your ancestors married as you are to 
marry? What explanation shall we give our 
friends? We can’t tell them the real reason but 
Bad and Mother and your mother must know the 
timth.” 

She watched his strong, steady fingers force to¬ 
bacco into his pipe. Now that he had made his 
decision he seemed as unshakable as his New Eng¬ 
land granite. Her heart shook her with its beating. 
She had a sudden desire to rest her head against one 
50 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


of his hands and cry. She gripped the arms of her 
chair and sat stiff and erect as she awaited his an¬ 
swer to her question. 

We will tell them that we met during the war 
—that is not necessarily an untruth, perhaps I went 
through your home town with troops, perhaps you 
gave me coffee—and that knowing your aunt’s plans 
and fearing her sorcery decided that we would 
marry before you reached Shorehaven and the 
jurisdiction of the planets.” 

That story may convince some but it won’t 
Billy. However, it will have to serve until after 
election.” 

^^When we reach home—Clearwater-” 

Clearwater! Is your mill there? ” 

'' Yes.” 

When I told you about Aunt Martha why didn’t 
you say that you knew her? You do, don’t 
you? ” 

Yes, and I have met two of your sisters and 
their husbands. Didn’t you passionately proclaim 
the fact that you detested Clearwater and every¬ 
thing connected with it? I wanted to win your 
friendship. Mrs. Marshall never has cared for me, 
apparently. She will like me less now that I have 
upset her project for you and Carfax.” 

I had forgotten Dallas the Second. Aunt 
Martha will be furious. She will think I smashed 
51 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


her plans on purpose—^perhaps—^perhaps with that 
reckless statement to Cheever I smashed your plans 
too. Perhaps you are in love with someone? ” Her 
tone begged for contradiction. Far down in the 
eyes which met hers steadily lurked a smile. 

I am.” 

Heavens, what a mess Tve made of things. I 
practically forced you to ask me to marry you, 
didn’t I? ” Indignation surged in the voice which 
had been near to tears. Why didn’t you tell me? 
All I thought of was that poor imprisoned princess. 
But it isn’t too late. You’d probably rather have 
the girl you love than the senatorship. I will go 
home and-” 

Trafford caught her by the shoulders as she 
turned away. We’ll see this thing through now, 
Goldilocks. My love affair has not progi’essed so 
far that it can’t wait until after election.” 

Julie smiled radiantly back at him. Thank 
heaven! The lady ought to forgive you, for ours 
won’t be a real marriage. It will be nothing but 
an empty contract stuffed down our throats by that 
odious Cheever. After election you may tell her 
the true story of your married life and I’ll cor¬ 
roborate the data.” She was boyishly friendly as 
she teased. 

Thank you. I may need your help to convince 
her that I loved her even when I married. Mean- 
52 



HERE COMES TEE SUN ! 

while you and I will be the best of friends, won’t 
we? ’’ 

^^We will. I feel as though I had known you 
years and years. Next to Billy you are the most 
companionable man I ever met. When I reach 
Shorehaven-” 

“ Shorehaven! When we reach Clearwater we’ll 
drive directly to Brick House. Mrs. James Traf- 
ford will naturally go home with her husband.” 

Julie indulged in an irrepressible ripple of laugh¬ 
ter. 

Of course. There is considerably more to this 
marriage bluff than I had sensed. Billy is right; 
never will I learn to look before I leap.” 

Are you sorry, Julie? ” 

She met his eyes squarely. Twin flames of ea¬ 
gerness burned in hers. 

No, a thousand times no! Cheever shan’t suc¬ 
ceed in wiping you off the political slate if I can 
help. We’ll proceed with this emergency measure 

and-” Something in his eyes caught at her 

breath. She gave his arm a little shake. There was 
a trace of panic in the voice in which she demanded: 

You understand that that is all it is, don’t you? 
Don’t you? ” 

Steady, Goldilocks, steady! Of course I under¬ 
stand. We are partners for the purpose of beating 
Cheever.” He looked down at the fingers clutching 
53 




HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


his arm and added lightly, We shall need a ring. 
Have you one that I can borrow for size? ” 

The color still burned in Juliets cheeks but 
the smile returned to her lips as she shook her 
head. 

A ring! Would you expect the sixth daughter 
of a country clergyman to possess a ring? I have 
never owned one.” 

Then Fll make one. Stand still a moment.” 
He pulled a knife from his pocket and severed a 
strand of her fair hair. Hold out your left hand.” 
He wound the golden thread around her third 
finger. He removed the slender circlet and laid it 
in his pocketbook. Julie watched him incuriously. 

Will it be necessary to have a ring for such a 
short time? ” 

Possibly not, but we won^t leave any holes for 
suspicion to peek through.” He looked at his 
watch. You had better put on your gown. The 
south-bound train goes by in an hour. YouTl find 
a mirror and wash-basin in the wood-shed. I’ll 
bring my clothes in here.” 

Fiftten minutes later when Julie returned her 
fair hair was as carefully arranged as though she 
had dressed in her own room; her heliotrope frock 
was minus frills and much the worse from its ex¬ 
posure to the storm. She looked from her crumpled 
gown to the wrinkles in Trafford’s coat. There was 
54 


HERE COME^ TEE SUE t 


a sliglit nnevenness in tlie voice she tried to keep 
gay as she observed: 

We look more like hoboes than a bridal couple.’’ 

“ We are not a bridal couple-” Trafford con¬ 

tradicted gruffly. 

She colored pinldy and pleaded breathlessly, 
Don’t notice my flippancy, please. I’m merely 
whistling to keep up my courage. I refuse to make 
a tragedy of the situation. I’ve whisked it inside 
out and have found the humorous lining.” 

Good little sport. Eemember that we are part¬ 
ners determined to beat a mud-slinging opponent. 
Are you ready? ” 

She caught up the spaniel. 

Yes. Of course we take Sweetie-peach? ” 

“We’ll keep him until his owner claims him.” 
He opened the door. “The storm has cleared. 
The air is glorious.” 

Julie hesitated for a moment on the threshold to 
look out upon a world silvered with moonlight and 
dappled with purple shadows. The sky was pow¬ 
dered with stars. The brook tinkled and splashed 
through the midnight stillness. A young breeze 
frisking by after a heady carousal among the bal¬ 
sams stirred the soft hair at the girl’s temples. The 
“Aolee-e” of a wood-thrush which had been de¬ 
ceived into a thought of dawn by the sudden emer¬ 
gence of the moon, splintered the silence. The 
55 



HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


singer’s prelude was followed by a melody of song 
ricb with the vibratory notes of a bell, which rose 
and fell and swelled into a paean. As the last jewel 
of sound was flung recklessly into the treasure- 
chest of space James Trafford smiled down into the 
eyes looking up at him. 

“We’ll take the thrush’s song as a good omen, 
Julie. Come.” 


56 


CHAPTER IV 


The engine shrieked a warning. Porters shouted 
“All aboard! ’’ As the Pullman shivered into 
action Julie looked from the car window. Was it 
only twenty-four hours since a train had stopped at 
this same signal-station and a girl and man had 
raced up the hillside in pursuit of a black spaniel? 
It seemed years. 

She closed her eyes and in retrospect lived over 
the hours since she and Trafford had boarded the 
south-bound train at midnight. Only an enraged 
conductor and a fussy porter had seen them enter; 
the passengers were in their berths. Prom the first 
station a wire had been sent to Martha Marshall. 
When they had reached Portland they had left the 
si>aniel with the baggageman and the girl had gone 
to an hotel. While she had breakfasted in her room 
the maid had pressed her frock and had sent out 
for fresh frills and a hat for her inspection. When 
Trafford had telephoned that he was waiting down¬ 
stairs her heart had pounded unbearably. Had he 
suspected it, she wondered. As she had stepped 
from the elevator he had drawn her to one side and 
suggested in a low voice: 

^ crrr 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


‘‘You may change your mind even now, Julie.” 

She had shaken her head vigorously in lieu of 
speech hut when their taxi had stopped in front of 
a church and parsonage she had drawn back and 
protested: 

‘‘JSTo, no, not by a clergyman! I thought it 
would be a justice of the peace! ” 

Asking for no explanation of her protest, Traf- 
ford had held out his hand with an imperious, 

Come! ” and she had followed him to the door. 
How could she make him understand that to her a 
marriage performed by a man of God seemed indis¬ 
soluble? In spite of the fact that she had served 
as witness innumerable times in her home rectory 
she couldn^t remember a word of what had been 
said. The ceremony seemed an unconnected dream. 
A dream! Julie’s heart jumped. Perhaps the 
whole thing was a dream, a nightmare! She 
opened her eyes cautiously and from under the 
fringe of her dark lashes looked down at her left 
hand. Hope folded its wings and dozed again. The 
glistening narrow circlet on her third finger was 
not of the stuff of which dreams are made, it was 
real. 

Julie opened her eyes wide and stared unseeingly 
out upon the woods and fields which flashed by. 
Now that the bubbles had evaporated from the 
champagne of excitement her sacrifice for her ideals 
58 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


for clean politics seemed absurdly flat. Don^t be 
a sbortsport^ Julie,” sbe admonisbed berself. After 
all, was wbat sbe bad done so preposterous? Sbe 
bad married a man on whose honor and kindness 
sbe would be willing to stake her life. Sbe bad 
done nothing in comparison to what hundreds of 
girls bad done during the war. They bad given 
their lives for a great cause and sbe bad given a few 
months of hers, given them because sbe passionately 
believed that if a leader broke laws either human 
or divine bis example would be followed by hun¬ 
dreds who would make bis weakness their excuse 
for deviltry. Jim Traflord bad not transgressed a 
law but his enemy would have broadcast bis sordid 
misrepresentation of last nigbt^s happy-go-lucky 
accident and there would be hundreds who 
would not bear the retraction. Truth has never 
a neck-and-neck chance to overtake a lie like 
that. 

Wbat would her parents say? Sbe bad begged 
Trafford to do bis best to keep the announcement 
of the marriage out of the newspapers until sbe bad 
written them. He had succeeded. To-night sbe 
would write her mother and father a full explana¬ 
tion of wbat bad happened. Suddenly, clearly sbe 
heard her fatber^s sonorous tones: Solemnly, ad¬ 
visedly, in the sight of God.” Would be think that 
sbe bad violated that admonition or would be un- 
59 


HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! 


derstand? She looked up in relief as Trafford took 
the seat beside her. Her voice was tinged with 
panic as she asked: 

Are we almost there? Is Sweetie-peach quite 
all right? ’’ she added, as though the welfare of the 
spaniel were of superlative importance. The gray 
eyes met hers with reassuring steadiness. 

He has made slaves of everyone in the baggage- 
car. That and running away seem to be his 
specialities. We’ll go forward and get him.” 

Five minutes later as Trafford and the girl 
stepped to the station platform a man hurried up. 
His face might have been assembled from a rum¬ 
mage sale of all-American features. His beard, of 
the slap-stick variety which reared and dropped 
with every excited word, hid the toothless state 
which articulation betrayed. His assorted eyes 
were alight with triumph as he caught Trafford by 
the arm. 

Gorry-me, Jim, we begun to think you was lost 
when you didn’t show up yesterday afternoon an’ 
yer grip did. Pamela drove over for you; she’s 
here agin to-day. Hev you heard the news? 
Ain’t yer? I guess you’ll git to the leg’slater all 
right. Cheever’s as near dead as he can be an’ be 
kep’ above ground.” 

^'What!” 

Unconsciously Julie clutched the coat of the man 
60 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


beside her. She felt the color drain from her lips 
and hit them furiously. Trafford had his voice 
well in hand when he demanded: 

What has happened to Cheever, Captain 
Phin? ’’ 

Cheever was cornin’ from that camp of his last 
night in the storm. He must have hen drivin’ like 
the devil fer not far from the cabin a big oak 
crashed down on the auto. Ben was pinned under 
what the high school teacher called the dee-bree. 
He can’t live through the night, they say.” 

How did you hear about it? ” 

“Willy Small found him about midnight an’ 
skulked into town at about nine o’clock this morn- 
in’. He sneaked that pink-eyed white bulldog of 
his out of the pound an’ lit out. Mark-my-words, 
he’ll never be seen round here again. Scared to 
death fer fear he’ll be held a witness, but the cor¬ 
oner won’t trouble him. There ain’t no doubt in 
anyone’s mind as to what got Cheever; it was the 
storm. I’m cornin’! I’m cornin’! ” he shouted in 
response to a hail. “ This fresh new station agent’s 
got some express fer Brick House. It beats all how 

some folks won’t wait a minute-” As his protest 

died away in the distance Julie released her hold 
on Trafford’s coat. Her face was white as she 
whispered: 

“ With Cheever almost dead and Small gone we 
61 


HERE COME^ THE SUN / 


won’t have to announce that marriage, will we? ” 
she pleaded breathlessly. 

You are to decide that, Julie.” 

Then weTl forget yesterday. Take the ring, 
quick! ” She pulled the circlet from her finger 
and dropped it into his pocket. I didn’t realize 
what a nightmare it had all been until this minute. 
I ought to be sorry for that man, but I’m not. I 
can think only of our unbelievable good-fortune. 
I’ll take Sweetie-peach with me. There’s Billy, the 
dear!” With a sob of excitement she darted to¬ 
ward the man who was racing down the platform. 

William Jaffrey caught the girl by the shoulders. 
His fairly plump body seemed to deflate with relief. 
His nose had a protrusive round tip, his full lips 
curved up, his green eyes had the keenness of a 
sharp-shooter’s. He was somewhat breathless. 

Had a darned blow-out on the way over,” he 
puffed. Thanl?: the Lord you’ve materialized. 
Marble-heart. I was off fishing yesterday and 
didn’t know until this morning that you hadn’t ar¬ 
rived when expected. You’d have thought Aunt 
Martha would have been fit to tie at your non- 
appearance, but she wasn’t. She took it philosoph¬ 
ically as Sol was in parallel aspect with Jupiter 
which rot translated means that yesterday was a 
lucky day for you. Where the dickens did you get 
the pup? ” 


62 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

^^Tlie pup?’’ Julie looked down at tke black 
dog in ber arms wbo growled tentatively and ran 
out a pink tongue at Jaffrey.. —ob, I found 

bim.” 

I’ll bet you picked bim up on tbe streets of 
Portland. Aba, I thought so; you have guilt 
smudged all over your spealdng and fairly good- 
looking countenance. You never stepped out yet, 
Marble-heart, without bringing home some forlorn 
canine. Where did you meet up with The Traf- 
ford? ” 

The Trafford? Who is he? ” 

thought I saw you talking with him as I 
raced up. M:y mistake. It is just as well you 
weren’t. He is a mill-owner here, a sort of lord- 
of-the-manor. Aunt Martha has him black-listed. 
I brought your coat. Better put it on. It will be 
cold after we start. The sun went down behind the 
hill half an hour ago.” He followed her into the 
roadster and bent to the gears. How does it 
happen that you are a day behind your sched¬ 
ule? ” 

I was on the train yesterday when I dashed out 

to get something and- 

'' And got left. Your suitcase and coat arrived 

on time anyway.” 

Julie’s voice was slightly uneven as she at¬ 
tempted to ask casually: 

63 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


has Aunt Martha black-listed—did you 
say his name was Traiford? 

Yes, Jim Trafford. The morning whistle of his 
mill disturbed her. She asked him to have it 
stopped. WasnT that characteristic of her? Of 
course he refused. I think that her determination 
never to vote was shaken to its foundations. She 
would have liked to help beat him at the next elec¬ 
tion. Ill arrange for you to meet Jim; youll like 
him. In my no-account judgment hell be Governor 
some day. Youll like your pro' pective bridegroom 
also,” he added with a chuckle. 

Has Dallas Carfax Second really arrived, 
Billy? ” 

He has. He is not at all a bad sort, Marble- 
heart. He is big and blond and has that my-heart- 
is-in-your-little-hand manner which mows down the 
female of the species in swathes.” 

Julie was silent as the car sped on. When she 
caught a glimpse of the ocean she drew a long 
breath. Far off a line of purple hills tore ragged 
jags in the horizon. Against the rocks—burnt 
umber at the base, pale umber at the top—^which 
lined the shore a blue-green sea ruffled whitely 
dragging countless silvery pebbles in its wake as it 
receded. Pines, balsams and cedars swept up and 
back from shore to sky-line. The clear air was 
lightly seasoned with the tang of salt. From far 
64 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


off in tlie woods came a plaintive, “ Whip-po’-will! 
Wliip-po^"Will! ” 

Tlie mournful call created panic in the girFs 
usually sound, safe and nerve-proof heart. She set 
her teeth hard in her lower lip to steady it. She 
caught Jaffrey’s arm and pleaded: 

Billy, don’t let Aunt Martha fling me at Dallas 
Carfax, will you? I can’t—I shan’t many him. 
If worst came to worst I’d rather marry you.” 

Jaffrey glared at her. “ Me! Not on your life! 
You’re all right as a pal but for a girl of my own I 
want-” 

^^Her mushy,” supplied Julie with a ripple of 
laughter. You’re not fair. Can I help it if 
when it comes to sentiment I can’t make the 
grade? ” 

“ Don’t cry about it. You have sentiment enough 
when it comes to a dog. Marble-heart. You’re 
mushy over the mangiest specimen the street pro¬ 
duces. I want my girl to be mushy over me and I 
don’t care if the world knows it. Besides, you 
know you wouldn’t have me if I roped and tied you. 
Just wait till you see Dallas the Conqueror. You 
won’t have time to play round with me. He reeks 
of fllthy lucre but he’s decent and unspoiled con¬ 
sidering the fact that since he cut his first teeth he 
has been trailed by hopeful mothers-” 

''And aunts. Just the same, I am prepared to 
65 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


hate him. Do you think that Managing Martha 
has told him her plan for—or us ? ” 

Holy smoke, no. Credit her with some sense. 
She told me as a sort of keep-off-the-grass warning.” 
Jaffrey's infectious grin sobered to a thoughtful 
frown. '' I don’t see why she told you. She might 
have known that it would" set you against him. 
She’s fallen down on her technique; usually she 
handles situations more diplomatically.” He 
stopped the car. 

'' Look! To borrow a phrase from your Dad’s 
Book of Books, I sometimes think that this must 
have been ^The exceeding high mountain from 
which He saw all the kingdoms of the world and the 
glory of them.’ Doesn’t that view do queer things 
to your breath? ” 

Julie nodded without speaking as she gazed down 
into the valley divided by a pond which looked like 
a molten mirror. Before it reached the bay the 
water churned into white falls and tumbled under 
a low bridge across which the road lazed. On its 
bank a group of mills, conjured by the afterglow 
into golden palaces of mystery and charm, loomed 
against the horizon. ^Nearer the shore nestled a 
village with two this-way-to-heaven sign-posts, the 
white spires of the churches. The valley was 
checkered with stone walls, dotted with ample farm¬ 
houses, patched with green fields, fringed with tall 
66 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

timber. Costly summer homes, more or less archi¬ 
tecturally fit for their surroundings, adorned or 
disfigured every point and curve of the inner bay 
which was partially separated from the outer by a 
disjointed peninsula of rocks and sand and glit¬ 
tering tide-pools. In the inner harbor boats of all 
types and sizes swung at their moorings. At the 
town wharf a schooner—picturesquely colorful in 
the distance—was being loaded with lumber. To¬ 
ward the north the outer bay spotted with islands 
and reefs rippled and surged on to the open sea. 
Julie drew a long breath. 

« So this is Maine!she paraphrased softly. It 
is wonderful, Billy. Can we see Shorehaven from 
here? 

Yes. See the mills? li^'ow look across Glass 
Pond. Do you see that spot of warm velvety color? 
That is Brick House where Traffords have lived for 
generations. Straight on from that are the roofs 
of Shorehaven. Get them ? ’’ 

“ Yes. How near together the two places seem.” 

The houses are two miles apart in distance but 
hundreds of years apart in tradition. Shorehaven is 
an electrified, plumbed, refrigerated, steam-heated 
adaptation of Tudor architecture. Brick House is 
mellowed with the atmosphere of the family which 
conceived and built it. See those falls under the 
bridge? I have a new stunt for you. At certain 
67 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 

tides tlie favorite outdoor sport here is to shoot the 
rapids.’^ 

Julie observed the foaming water without enthu¬ 
siasm. It looks ticklish/’ 

It isn’t, i^o girl has ever tried it but I’ll have 
you eating it up within a week. Nothing can hap¬ 
pen if you keep your head and I have never known 
you to lose yours, Marble-heart.” 

She colored faintly. There is always a first 
time, Billy. What is that curious green house on 
the slope this side of the river? It looks like a 
mammoth dragon. Those disjointed, straggling 
ells make the tail, those curving steps in front form 
the jaws, and those two funny little windows under 
the eaves that the sun has set afire look like the 
monster’s flaming eyes. Who owns that master¬ 
piece of architecture? ” 

Jaffrey chadded. You’re some little word- 
painter, Marble-heart. That is a bungalow, what 
sins are committed in thy name, oh bungalow! It 
belongs to Cheever, the representative from this 
county to the state legislature, who keeps bachelor 
hall there. He is up again for election but Jim 
Trafford is giving him a run for his money this trip. 
There has been a breath of rumor that Ben has not 
been quite straight, but such an intangible breath 
that it has made no impression. There has been a 
lot of excitement in the village over the contest but 
68 


HERE COME^ TEE SUN ! 


it looks now as tkough. the fun were over. I heard 
at the station that Cheever was smashed up last 
night in the storm. They thought he was going to 
die but-” 

Thought! Isn’t he? ” cut in the girl sharply. 
Jaffrey regarded her in astonishment. You 
bloodthirsty creature! Just because there has 
been a rumor that a man has been crooked in 
politics do you want him snuffed out? Hmp! 
Votes for women! ” 

Of course I don’t, Billy. It was just interest.” 
‘^Interest! It sounded mighty like despair to 
me. Cheer up, he probably won’t pull through, 
though these State of Maine men are the dickens 
and all for endurance. Seen enough? Let’s go! ” 
As the roadster shot forward Julie glanced cov¬ 
ertly at the bungalow on the hill. In one of the 
windows under the eaves the sun’s reflection slowly 
paled and went out. To the girl’s excited imagina¬ 
tion it was as though the green dragon had winked 
one contemplative, derisive eye. 


69 



CHAPTER Y 


JuuE opened the door to what in Tudor times 
would have been known as the minstrel gallery at 
Shorehaven. In Martha MarshalFs practical 
regime it housed the console of an organ. From 
the shadowy retreat the girl looked out into the 
great hall with its oak half-timber ceiling, its leaded 
glass windows set in stone mullions. It was 
lighted by a myriad electric bulbs in branching 
candelabra, for the lady of the manor disliked 
dusl^ corners. Two balconies extended round 
three sides from which doors opened into luxurious 
apartments. Costly rugs which in tone and color¬ 
ing harmonized with those on the dark floor below 
were flung over the railings. Bowls of glowing 
flowers in the hall made splashes of color against a 
dark background. Behind the ornate brass doors 
of the fireplace logs blazed cheerily. 

The fragrant warmth, the color, the stillness 
gently untangled the girPs knotted emotions. She 
dropped to the organ seat and sat for a moment 
with her eyes closed, her hands linked loosely in her 
lap. Since Cheever had entered the cabin the night 
before her mind had been in a tumult For the 
first time she had a chance to index and pigeonhole 
the events of the last twenty-four hours, to take ac- 
70 


HEBE GOMES THE SUN ! 


count of stock. If Managing Martha had black¬ 
listed James Trafford there would be no danger of 
meeting him at Shorehaven, so that liability could 
be checked off. Her aunt had swallowed her ex¬ 
planation as to her delayed arrival without the 
least attempt at mastication. She had accompanied 
her to her rooms and left her with the serene an¬ 
nouncement : 

“ I have provided a wardrobe for you, Julie, as I 
did for your sisters. Make yourself lovely. You 
are the prettiest of the Lorraine girls. I was wise 
not to invite you here until I had the others mar¬ 
ried.’’ 

The memory of her self-congratulatory tone 
brought a flush to the girl’s cheeks. She had felt 
like a prize colt about to be knocked down to the 
highest bidder. She was tempted to refuse to wear 
a gown from the wardrobe, but she remembered her 
promise to her mother and with apparent enthu¬ 
siasm had selected a frosted violet evening frock 
from among those which Carlotta, the Spanish 
maid, produced for her inspection. 

At the sound of voices in the hall below Julie tip¬ 
toed to the railing of the minstrel-gallery and 
looked down. Martha Marshall was standing on 
the hearth-rug. The girl regarded her aunt with 
wrinkled-brow absorption. She had the stiff man¬ 
ner of a general directing a campaign. She was 
71 


HERE C03IES THE SUN ! 


tall. Her slightly full figure in its stately goTvui of 
black crepe was guilty of a waist-line the fashion 
of which went out with Tipperary and long skirts. 
Her beautiful white hair was perfectly dressed, her 
blue eyes were large and keen, her clear skin was 
faintly tinged with rose. Her short upper lip and 
piquant nose which were so out of character with 
the rest of her were balanced by the challenging 
chin and imperiously poised head of the born execu¬ 
tive. Her aunt’s viewpoint had not shifted as much 
as an inch in all these last kaleidoscopic years, her 
niece reflected as she looked down upon her. She 
was kind-hearted as long as one agreed with her, 
just until a cause clashed with a cherished convic¬ 
tion, and bitterly intolerant of the modern woman 
with her melange of activities. 

Billy Jaffrey stood near her. The sunburn of his 
face topped by his red hair was intensified by the 
black and white of his dinner clothes; his hostess 
was a stickler for form even in the country. Was 
the man opposite him Dallas Carfax, Julie won¬ 
dered. He was broad-shouldered, his small 
mustache was as blond as his hair; she couldn’t see 
his eyes. He was tall, but not as tall as Jim Traf- 
ford- 

The comparison brought memories of the last 
twenty-four hours trooping back. In an attempt to 
outrace her thoughts Julie hurried from the gal- 
72 


HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! 


lery and ran down the narrow winding stairs. As 
she entered the hall Jaffrey looked up. 

Talk about an angel- 

Were you talking about me, Billy? ” 

‘^My word, the conceit of her! That one so 
young and guileless should be allowed to travel 

alone in this wicked world- 

Martha Marshall interrupted his theatrical solil¬ 
oquy. She slipped her arm around Julie’s waist 
and drew her forward. 

Dallas, this is my youngest niece, Julie Lor¬ 
raine. I know that you and she will be friends.” 

The girl’s lips stiffened with resentment as she 
looked up into the brown eyes smiling down at her 
with happy-go-lucky assurance. Then to her 
amazement she felt her aversion to the man oozing 
away. She liked him! She was too surprised at 
her own change of viewpoint to speak. Suddenly 
over his shoulder she caught a glimpse of Jaffrey 
as hands clasped on his breast, eyes crossed, lips 
sagging open he gazed dumbly upward. The girl 
strangled a laugh as she dragged her fascinated 
eyes back to the man before her. Had Billy meant 
that she had been looking at Carfax like that? Her 
lips twitched, her dimples deepened, her voice was 
unsteady as she declared warmly: 

I am so glad to meet you.” 

Carfax’s puzzled eyes met hers which were riot- 
73 



HEBE COMEB THE SUN ! 


ous with laughter. His color mounted but there 
was a humorous twist to the lips beneath his slight 
mustache as he responded: 

“ You seem to be. In fact you appear almost 
hysterical with pleasure.’’ 

Julie cast an imploring, indignant glance at Jaf- 
frey. He jumped into the breach. 

Guests expected at dinner, Aunt Martha? Not 
many, I hope. A crowd cramps my style.” 

^^Then there will be no excuse for your not 
glittering like the Kohinoor to-night, William,” 
Mrs. Marshall replied dryly. “There will be 
three besides ourselves. Mrs. Trafford and her 
son-” 

“ But I thought you were at swords’ points with 
the last of the mill-magnates.” 

His hostess regarded him with indulgent disdain. 
“As a senatorial candidate I am, as a dinner guest 
he is most desirable. He can talk on any subject 
and he—^he has such a wonderful nose.” Her tone 
was wistful as just for an instant she quite uncon¬ 
sciously touched her own insignificant pug. Julie 
hastily avoided Jaffrey’s incredulous eyes. Could 
it be possible that her aunt was envious of a nose, 
was that the weak joint in her armor of self-satis¬ 
faction, she had time to wonder before Mrs. Mar¬ 
shall went on: 

“ His mother is charming, thoroughbred. Not at 
74 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


all tlie modern woman. She has none of the 
twentieth century urge for hot-box oratory.’^ 

Soap-box oratory, you mean, Aunt Martha. 
Don’t speak of the lovely lady as though she were a 
trolley-car,” teased Jaffrey. Who will make the 
third in your galaxy of stars? ” 

William, I wish that occasionally you would 
take things seriously. My third guest is Mrs. Traf- 
ford’s ward, Pamela Parkman, who arrived at Brick 
House a few days ago. She makes her home with 
the Traffords. I understand that the son is en¬ 
gaged to her.” 

Wha—at!” 

Julie juggled the startled exclamation into a 
paroxysm of affected coughing. Her aunt regarded 
her anxiously. Carfax approached her solicitously; 
she turned her back quickly on Jaffrey’s contempla¬ 
tive eyes. She flung a stumbling explanation into 
the silence. She had caught her breath, she often 
did it—it was not really a cough, she mumbled. 
Jaffrey interrupted with exaggerated concern: 

You should cure yourself of that rube habit of 
drawing impressions in through your open mouth. 
Marble-heart. It isn’t done in polite society.” 

“Mrs. Trafford, Miss Parkman, Mr. Trafford,” 
announced the butler. 

eTulie retreated behind the great couch at right 
angles with the fireplace as the guests advanced. 

75 


HEBE COMEB THE SUN ! 


Her heart thumped out a measure to which her 
pulses quick-stepped. Was it true that Jim Traf- 
ford had been engaged to his mother^s ward? 
Probably that fact, even more than the political 
rivalry, accounted for Cheever’s furious enmity. 
What had the man meant by his gibe, The girl 
has turned a clever trick! ” ? The sentence re¬ 
curred to Julie with annoying persistency. In spite 
of his engagement, perhaps because of it, Trafford 
had recognized the importance of the marriage as 
an emergency measure. Fortunately the emer¬ 
gency had passed—^but had it—had it? If Cheever 
were to recover—^but he couldn^t—^how- 

She thrust the man from her mind and forced 
Mrs. Trafford into the foreground. The charming 
woman justified Martha MarshalTs enthusiasm. 
Anne Trafford gave the impression of having met 
life valiantly. Her head with its shining waves of 
slightly silvered bronze hair came about to her 
son’s heart, just where a mother’s head ought to 
come, Julie approved in her thoughts. Her eyes 
were a sunny brown, her mouth seemed fashioned 
for tenderness, her white lace gown was undoubt¬ 
edly an advance model. 

The girl who entered the hall with her was in 
striking contrast. Her personality was pitched in 
a more blatant key. Her slenderness bordered on 
attenuation. The sleeveless, backless bodice of her 
76 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


pailletted yellow frock displayed a gleaming ex¬ 
panse of super-wkite skin. The lacquered effect of 
her shaved eyebrows gave an oriental look to her 
dark eyes. The red of her lips, the flush of her 
cheeks, the shadows under her eyes were the work 
of an expert. Her black hair, guiltless of wave or 
ripple, was swathed in gold gauze. Her voice was 
keyed up to her personality. There was a strident 
note in it as she handed a vanity-case to the man 
beside her with an imperious: 

Put this in your pocket, Jim! ” 

Julie’s eyes lingered on his fine lean face as with 
chivalrous deference he responded to the qualified 
welcome of his hostess. 

Don’t look upon me as a political convert, Mr. 
Trafford. I’ve called a truce because I so admire 
your mother. Julie,” she waited for the girl’s slow 
approach. Mrs. Trafford, I want you to know 
my youngest niece, Julie Lorraine. Miss Parkman, 
Julie, and Mr. Trafford.” 

If she had not thought it to be quite out of char¬ 
acter Julie would have sworn that there was a 
slight timbre of excitement in her aunt’s carefully 
trained voice. The girl met the man’s steady gaze 
with impersonal eyes. He was evidently awaiting 
his cue. She smiled radiantly at his mother. 

You are entitled to hold your head high if you 
have won Aunt Martha’s admiration, Mrs. Trafford. 

77 


HERE COME^ TEE EUN ! 


It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Parkman. Mr. 
Senator-Apparent, it has been the ambition of my 
life to cross swords with an honest-to-goodness 
political candidate. Aren’t you thrilled to the 
marrow by your opportunity? ” 

The group shifted into another pattern leaving 
Julie and Trafford together. The smile left the 
girl’s lips, her brows met in a slight frown as she 
whispered: 

Not a soul suspects! You said that you were 
in love but why, why didn’t you tell me that you 
were engaged? That’s different.” 

The charm of his smile struck down the slim 
rapier of her resentment. His voice was as low as 
hers but rich with amused indulgence as he an¬ 
swered : 

‘^Engaged! I am not engaged. I’m an old 
married man.” 

“ Thank heaven he sees the humor of the situa¬ 
tion,” the girl thought as she took her place at 
table. He need lose no time in getting the mar¬ 
riage annulled or broken or whatever one did to a 
contract that really was not a contract. How could 
a man of his force of character care for a girl like 
Pamela Parkman? Apparently he could, for hadn’t 
he admitted last night that he was in love? He 
would be eager for his freedom. Julie’s spirits 
soared. She would get a firmer grip on that all- 
78 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


for*self cult ske kad adopted and pack tkis visit 
witk pleasure. Ske kad made a flying-start wken 
ske kad accepted tkat marvelous aggregation of 
kats, frocks and accessories from ker aunt. 

Carfax was seated at ker rigkt. Julie found kim 
surprisingly easy to {alk to. Was tke fact due to 
kis tact and experience or kad tke events of tke 
last twenty-four kours swept away tke barriers of 
reserve wkick ske was wont to erect between ker- 
self and young men, ske wondered. He was de¬ 
voted to outdoor sports, so was ske. In a lull in tke 
general conversation ke spoke to Jaffrey at tke 
girl’s left. 

Tke law will be off shore birds in a few days, 
Billy. Miss Lorraine kas promised to come shoot¬ 
ing with us. Perhaps we can persuade you to join 
tke party. Miss Parkman.” 

Pamela shook a dissenting head. No shooting 
for me, thank you. I hate a gun.” 

Julie is one good little shot if I did train ker,” 
effervesced Jaffrey vaingioriously. But we can’t 
do muck without a dog.” 

Pamela Parkman forgot ker pose of indifference 
as ske contributed eagerly: 

Tkat reminds me! There was a riot at tke 
station yesterday. Somewhere en route a black 
dog kad escaped from a baggage-car and a man 
and girl had chased him. They disappeared in a 
79 




HERE COME^ THE SUN I 

flash and no one Imew who they were. The train 
went on and left them. The passengers were furi¬ 
ous as there was not another north-bound train until 
morning. The conductor in charge who was making 
his first Maine trip—as were most of the porters, 
defended his action on the ground that he had to 
meet the Bar Harbor boat and ^ How’d I know but 
what they hadiiT planned it anyway! ’ What do 
you suppose happened to the three? 

The six pink candles in the six massive silver 
sticks seemed to Julie to be doing a one-step about 
the bowl of sweet-peas and stevia in the middle of 
the table. What was Jim Tralford thinking? She 
didn’t dare look at him. Would no one ever speak? 
She stole a glance at Jaflrey. His green eyes were 
fixed on the girl opposite as he exclaimed: 

^^What a corking situation for a story! What 
breed of dog was it, Miss Parkman? ” 

A black cocker spaniel, someone said.” 

You would want something larger than that for 
hunting, Mrs. Marshall,” Trafford cut in easily. 
As his hostess protested that she did not want any 
kind of dog, Billy Jafirey murmured in Julie’s ear: 
Well, I’ll be darned, Marble-heart! ” 


80 


CHAPTER VI 


Julie in a dripping black batbing-snit, a green 
silk kerchief bound about her head, perched on the 
bow of Captain Phineas Snow^s dory anchored off 
shore. Her sunbrowned hands clasped one silken 
knee in an affectionate embrace as she gave ear to 
the fisherman^s monologue as he tinkered with the 
engine. The spaniel, head tilted, gravely super¬ 
intended the repairs. 

It beats all how Ben Cheever hangs on, don’t 
it? It’s jest two weeks to-morrer since he was struck 
down an’ they say he don’t git no better’n no 
worse. The doc says he’s dingin’ to life like a bull¬ 
dog. They can’t find no bones broken, jest had a 
concussion, that’s all. This human frame of ours 
is a queer machine. One minute ’twill stand more’n 
’twould take to wreck a ship an’ the next ’twill go 
to kingdom come at a touch as light as a thistle¬ 
down,” toothlessly philosophized Captain Snow as 
he filled a grease-cup. 

Julie nodded affirmatively, her eyes on the bun¬ 
galow across the pond. It was three miles away but 
in the clear air it seemed within touching distance. 
She never passed it nor looked at it without a curi¬ 
ous shiver. !Never had she lost her first impression 
81 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


that the house was a crouching green dragon dia¬ 
bolically conscious of something sinister. 

Of course this accident will settle the senatorial 
fight, Captain Phin. Mr. Trafford will win hands 
down, won^t he? ” 

The man straightened his bent back and looked 
thoughtfully toward the rustic bath-house which 
was set up from the roclvy, kelp-strewn shore. On 
the horizon line back of it loomed the red roofs of 
Shorehaven. The air was seasoned with salt, sea¬ 
weed and a slight dash of fish. With a shake of 
his head the man shifted his glance to the girl and 
regarded her with marble-like eyes. They reminded 
her of the two prize glassies over which she and 
Billy had waged eternal warfare in the days of 
their youth. 

I dunno, gorry-me, I dunno. You see, Cheever 
had. his own way in the county for years an’ then 
along comes Jim. He’s always been with his grand¬ 
father more or less, but he’s been all over the world 
an’ we none of us thought he’d be content to settle 
here. Folks don’t want to elect him an’ then have 
him get tired of it here an’ leave an’ that’s w^hat 
Ben’s tellin’ everybody he’ll do.” 

should trust Mr. Trafford before I would 
Cheever,” championed the girl hotly. She colored 
under her sunburn at the fisherman’s quick re¬ 
tort. 


82 


HEBE COMES THE SUH ! 


“ How do you know? Ckeever^s ben smashed up 
ever since youVe ben here.” 

One can—can judge something from what one 
hears, can^t one? ” fenced Julie. 

Sure, sure. Jim an’ Ben were great friends at 
first, used to go huntin’. Then all of a sudden they 
weren’t seen together an’ Jim announced thet he 
was to run fer the leg’slature.” 

Why not? Competition is as desirable in poli¬ 
tics as it is in business, isn’t it? ” 

Sure it is, but Ben got ugly. He’s tried to rake 
up something in Jim’s past to smirch his campaign 
but he couldn’t find so much as a cobwebby corner. 
Jim’s ben straight all his life. He’s ben full of 
fun an’ mischief but he’s ben straight. He can 
count eight generations back up there in the old 
cemetery on the bluff. Sometime you git him to 
show you the grave of the First Trafford. It’s 
marked by a common field stone with name and 
date on it. Folks come miles to see that. The fam¬ 
ily, all except the Mad Trafford, an’ gorry-me, he 
wouldn’t be thought so wild these days, have ben 
fine God-fearin’ citizens; it would be a mean skunk 
who would break that record. When I heard thet 
Jim was goin’ into politics I shouted right out in 
caucus: 

^ Here comes the sun! ’ ” 

Snow wiped his greasy hands with a greasy wad 
83 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


of waste and reached into his pocket for his pipe. 
When he had the richly colored abomination draw¬ 
ing to his satisfaction he clutched his knee in two 
gnarled hands and regarded the girl whose slim 
figure swayed with every motion of the bow. 

The papers are full of stories of bribery an^ 
corruption in politics. If you could git the young 
men growin’ up to think it more manly to be 
straight than to be lawbreakers an’ to set to an’ 
take hold of things, mark-my-words, ’twould be the 
dawn of a new day; ’twouldn’t be long before the 
sun of righteousness an’ square dealin’ would be 
shinin’ overhead.” 

‘‘ You’re a philosopher, Captain Phin.” 

The old fisherman regarded the girl quizzically. 

Don’t call me fancy names. I’m an American 
citizen, that’s all. I ain’t got the education to talk 
right but you don’t have to know no grammar rules 
to think right an’ I say what we need in this coun¬ 
try is young people who’ll think more of what they 
owe to the nation an’ less of what the nation owes 
them. Jim Trafford’s one of the first.” 

But you seem doubtful about Ms winning the 
election.” 

Gorry-me, I am. I dunno why, either. I ain’t 
heard nothin’, I don’t know nothin’, but I feel some¬ 
thing in the air. You never can tell at sunup what 
you’ll bump into before sundown, Julie.” It was 
84 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


the Captain^s royal custom to dispense with pre¬ 
fixes. He “ never could see no use in misterin^ and 
missin^ people,” he contended. 

Does Mr. Trafford sense something too? ” 

I dunno. You never kin tell what^s goin^ on 
behind them gray eyes of his. When he gets a 
certain smile in them I know he^s runnin’ up a 
‘ Take warnin’! ’ signal. They tell me at the mill 
that he’s campaignin’ most of the day an’ workin’ 
nights at the office. That kinder looks as though 
he wa’n’t none too sure, don’t it? Kinder tough 
fer him to have to be away so much when thet 
pretty ward of his mother’s is stayin’ at Brick 
House. Perhaps though he’s pleased. He must get 
all-fired tired bearin’ women talk. His mother ain’t 
a talker, she’s a doer, but there’s Sarah Beddle be¬ 
sides the Parkman girl.” 

Who is Sarah Beddle? ” 

She’s housekeeper at the Traffords an’ the sour¬ 
est old maid in the State of Maine. She’s nutty on 
the subject of cats. She’s got one at the house now 
that M’s. Trafford says I’ve got to chloroform if 
Sarah don’t. You see, I’ve been sort of a handy 
man fer Brick House since I was twenty. I taught 
Jim to fish, to shoot, to sail a boat. He’d listen to 
what I said ’es though ’twas gospel. That kept me 
steerin’ pretty straight myself. That Beddle 
woman’s tongue is hung in the middle.” 

85 


HERE COMES TEE SUN ! 


The venom of the Captain^s tone suggested many 
and losing encounters with the lady of the rotary 
tongue. 

“ Cheerio, Captain Phin. You don’t suffer from 
the companionship of women. You live alone, don’t 
you? ” 

There’s only me an’ the phonograph. When I 
want to hear talk I turn the crank; when I’ve heard 
all I want I shut the thing off, which is something 
you can’t do with a person.” 

And I have been sitting here for the last half 
hour talking to you and doubtless you have been 
wishing you could shut me off. I’m sorry. Per¬ 
haps sometime I’ll find somebody who appreciates 
me.” The laughter in the girl’s brilliant eyes gave 
the lie to her lugubrious voice. Snow’s glassies 
warmed with approval. 

You know all-fired well I don’t git tired bearin’ 
you talk, Julie. But I guess your aunt wouldn’t 
like it if she knew how friendly we was. M’s. Mar¬ 
shall’s a fine woman but she ain’t no mixer. Here 
comes yer beau,” he observed as a man in sports 
coat and knickerbockers appeared among the low 
pines that edged the shore. That Carfax is a 
nice friendly feller but don’t you marry him, elulie, 
unless he gits to work. Don’t take a man that’s 
likely to hang around the house all day.” 

The girl stood on the bow preparatory to a dive. 

86 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


From the seat the black spaniel watched her. 
Straight and slim, hands clasped behind her green 
turbaned head, she swayed with every motion of 
the boat as she laughed down upon the fisherman. 

“I can’t picture Dallas Carfax hanging round 
the house. His days must be fairly full when he is 
in New York.” 

Full! Full of what? Is he runnin’ a mill? Is 
he goin’ to the leg’slater for the good of his coun¬ 
try? ” Snow demanded jealously. 

“Why don’t you talk to him. Captain Phin? 
You might succeed in making him realize his re¬ 
sponsibilities.” 

“ Course I know you’re foolin’, but gorry-me, I 
will talk to him the first chance—^what you 
sayin’? ” bellowed the Captain in response to a hail 
from shore. 

“ Mrs. Trafford wants you to bring the launch to 
her fl-o-a-t,” shouted Carfax. “Come in—Juli-e. 
Pic-nic! ” 

The girl waved her hand and dove. The black 
spaniel scrambled over the gunwale and splashed 
into the water. He followed at a respectful dis¬ 
tance from her gleaming arms. As the two waded 
to shore Carfax joined them with Julie’s cape which 
he placed over her shoulders with practised care. 

“Captain Phin thinks that you should go to 
work. Dal,” she teased as she looked up into his 
87 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


lazy brown eyes. It was surprising, sbe thought, 
how fond she had become of Carfax in these last 
two weeks, the more surprising that it was the 
result so evidently desired by Managing Martha. 

Work! We’re ordered to Blue Heron Cove for 
a picnic and if that doesn’t mean work for an um 
resisting male, what does? Billy is to bring Aunt 
Martha’s boat round to the Brick House float from 
which we will all embark. Mrs. Trafford has suc¬ 
ceeded in corralling her son for a few hours. Hustle 
into your clothes, Julie. I’ll wait here.” 

I won’t be—a min-” the girl’s voice floated 

back as she raced for the bath-house, the black 
spaniel playfully nipping at her heels. It was sev¬ 
eral minutes before she returned in her white- 
knitted frock and violet sweater, a soft hat pulled 
low to shade her eyes. She drew a long breath. 

What a day for a picnic! It’s glorious! Don’t 
you love this, ^ the-world-is-mine,’ feeling, Dal? ” 
He smiled at her indolently. I’m afraid I never 
had it. We’d better toddle along. Why take the 
dog? ” he asked jealously as in answer to her 
whistle the spaniel left a tide-pool in which he had 
been making life miserable for a crab and dashed 
up to her. 

I just haven’t the courage to hurt his feelings 
by leaving him behind.” 

It’s a pity about your soft heart, Julie. You 
88 



HERE GOME^ THE SUN ! 


remind me of one of those chocolate-coated bits of 
granite one encounters in the average mixture.” 

Are you intimating that I am stony-hearted or 
as delectable as chocolate? ” 

‘•Laugh if you like, I’m in earnest. You’re 
both.” 

“ Then enjoy the surface chocolate. I don’t like 
that word granite, I much prefer Billy’s Marble- 
heart. The name suggests something nice and 
white and undented,” she tormented. 

“ Your heart is undented, all right. I-” 

With boyish friendliness Julie slipped her arm 
within his as they turned into the wood trail that 
led to the road. 

“ Please don’t spoil-” 

At a sound ahead she looked up. Trafford faced 
her with a basket in each hand. Julie dropped the 
arm she held as though it had flamed red-hot. 
Then furiously angry with herself she turned her in¬ 
dignation into the first available channel. 

“How you startled me! You go through the 
woods like an Indian, Mr. Trafford. I didn’t sus¬ 
pect that there was anyone within two miles of us.” 

“ So I imagined. Carfax, Mrs. Marshall wants 
you at Shorehaven. You and she and Billy are to 
pick up Pamela who is playing auction at the Club. 
Miss Lorraine is coming in our boat when we go 
ahead to get the fire started.” 

89 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


Wliy the dickens didn^t Aunt Martha send you 
for your own guest? ” 

You may search me. I’m merely obeying or¬ 
ders. It is Mother’s birthday and I couldn’t refuse 
to help her celebrate. When I left the office the 
Shorehaven chauffeur was waiting to take me to 
Mrs. Marshall. This is the result.” He moved his 
basket-laden hands. With a muttered protest Car- 
fax started on the run. 

We’ll go directly to the float, Goldilocks. Cap¬ 
tain Phin-” 

Don’t call me that! Someone might hear you.” 

So they might. I’m sorry.” 

They swung into the hard white road. The 
spaniel darted from side to side to poke his nose 
into suggestive holes in the shrub-crowded banks, 
elulie had met Trafford every day but it was the 
first moment she had been alone with him since 
they had parted at the train two weeks before. She 
racked her mind for something to say, something 
which should be sophisticatedly impersonal. She 
had the sense of groping in a great empty room, 
beautifully clean, swept clear of even a shred of an 
idea. In despair she sank to a boulder by the side 
of the road. 

“ There is a pebble in my shoe. You had better 
go on and tell them that I am coming,” she sug¬ 
gested as she struggled with a button. Trafford 
90 



HERE GOME^ THE SUN ! 


dropped the baskets at the imminent risk of trans¬ 
fusing forever their contents and went down on one 
knee in front of her. 

Can^t I help? ” 

No. Darn! ” she muimiured under her breath 
as she broke a finger-nail. Trafford took possession 
of her foot and unbuttoned the shoe. 

Steady, Goldilocks. Why should you get 
panicky because we are alone together? You are 
not afraid of me, are you? ” 

Afraid! ” 

Two indignant amethysts blazed up and met his 
smiling eyes. 

That is better. I prefer to have a person look 
at me when I talk to them. There was no pebble in 
your shoe. Put it on again and I’ll button it.” He 
hesitated and then went on gravely, Julie, I want 
your permission to announce our marriage if neces¬ 
sary.” 

If necessary! Is tiere a chance that Cheever 
will live? Oh, I didn’t mean that as it sounded. 
Of course I want him to live. . . . I—I have had 
the feeling all the time that he might and I’ve won¬ 
dered what I ought to do.” Her troubled eyes met 
his. 

Put it out of your mind. Trust me to make the 
next move, will you? ” 

His hold on her shoe tightened. She looked down 
91 


EEEE COMES THE SUN ! 

at his fingers, then up into his eyes. She wriggled 
her foot free and sprang to her feet. 

Of course I will trust you. I have from the 
first moment we met. I can^t stay panicky when I 
am with you, you are so cool and steady and 
friendly. Our escapade would have proved a night¬ 
mare had you been like some men I know. I am 
sorry that your romance had to be held up but as 
far as I am concerned our partnership in the in¬ 
terest of good government may last until you think 
it safe to dissolve it. It doesn’t trouble me in the 
least.” 

So I can see.” 

Julie looked up at him quicMy. Was there a 
trace of irony in his tone, in the gray eyes vrhich 
met hers? 

Evidently the partnership isn’t interfering with 
your aunt’s plans in regard to Carfax. He seems 
completely under your spell.” 

He isn’t really. It is his habit to devote him¬ 
self to someone and as I am in the same house he 
is following the course of least resistance. I have 
a feeling of guilt about Aunt Martha, though. I am 
accepting her hospitality and all the lovely frocks 
when I haven’t the least intention of- 

Don’t you wear any color but shades of violet? ” 
“ Observing man. Hooverizing on colors was a 
measure of economy with us Lorraines so I dyed all 
92 



HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


the girls’ white hand-me-downs violet to match my 
eyes when they are not blue. However, why should 
that fact interest you? Mrs, James Trafford won’t 
have to economize,” Julie teased gaily. 

“ Oh, but she does, or she thinks that she must.” 
The girl caught her breath as she met his eyes. 

Don’t say that—that way. For an instant I 
felt trapped. As though I were really Mrs. J— 
J-” she stumbled irretrievably. 

Mrs. James Trafford? Not so bad,” he mused 
judicially. Your signature would be Julie Lor¬ 
raine Trafford. Decidedly rhythmic, isn’t it? ” 

Don’t! Please! If you keep on I shall begin 
to think that I am married.” 

Then we’ll forget it. I have news for you. No, 
no, nothing unpleasant. Don’t be so apprehensive. 
I have finally succeeded in getting in touch with the 
owner of the spaniel; he wasn’t on the train that 
day, and the dog is yours.” 

The girl’s eyes were like stars. ^^Eeally? Did 
you buy him for me? You shouldn’t have done it. 
I have been brought up not to accept presents from 
men friends,” she protested with tormenting 
gravity. 

But you don’t consider me-” he forced his 

voice to coolness. ''This is certainly some day! See 
that fish-hawk! Over your head! Quick! ” 

Julie looked up with an unconscious sigh of re- 
93 



EEEE COMES THE SUN ! 


lief. For an instant she had had the sense of being 
drawn gently, irresistibly into smothering depths. 
Above her a mammoth bird circled against the blue 
of the sky. For a second it hung and fanned, then 
rose until it disappeared into the snowy depths of 
a floating cloud-cave. Out it came. It sank, it 
swooped, with outspread wings it pounced on some¬ 
thing beneath the meringue-tipped ripples of the 
bay. The girl controlled a shiver as she whispered: 

That bird reminds me of Cheever. But how 
can he pounce-” 

“ All aboard! shouted a voice from the water. 

‘‘Coming, Captain!’’ Julie answered and raced 
ahead of her companion to the float. 

Anne Trafford was seated in the stern of a trim 
motor-launch. She looked like a girl in her green 
sports coat and hat. Julie’s heart went out to her 
as she met the smiling tenderness of her eyes. 

“ Your aunt arranged for you to come with us. 
Miss Lorraine. Are you and I equal to keeping 
these three men in order? I forgot, you haven’t met 
Major Buell. Tom! ” In response to her call a 
man who had been bent over a locker stood up. 
Would he ever stop looming, the girl wondered. 
He had gray hair, quizzical eyes behind glasses and 
an iron jaw. 

“ Oooch, I should hate to be what you wanted if 
I didn’t want you,” Julie thought as she took the 
94 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


hand he extended to help her into the boat. Traf- 
ford followed her and Snow pushed off. She turned 
to the woman in the stern. 

Dal told me that this was your birthday. Fe¬ 
licitations ! 

Now what have I said? ’’ she wondered indig¬ 
nantly as she felt Trafford’s intent eyes on hers. 
She turned away from them but his voice followed 
her. 

/•Won’t you take the wheel, Miss Lorraine? 
Didn’t you tell me that you were used to a motor- 
boat? ” 

Oh, may I? Would it make you nervous, Mrs. 
Trafford? I am really an experienced skipper.” 

Take it, if it would be a pleasure. Nothing 
frightens me with Jim aboard.” 

Anne, don’t leave me out! ” 

The intonation of the Major’s voice sent prickly 
thrills over Julie. He seated himself in the stern 
and she went forward. Captain Phin relinquished 
the wheel to her. 

''Do you see thet bleached oak on the island? 
Keep her headed straight fer thet. Jim, you’d bet¬ 
ter stay kinder near.” 

Trafford nodded and took his place directly be¬ 
hind the girl. There was a laugh in his voice as he 
commented: 

I wish that you could have seen the color of 

as 


HERE COMES THE SUN I 

your face when the Major protested to Mother, 
Goldilocks. You mustn’t mind him. He has been 
in love -with her for the last fifteen years.” 

“ And doesn’t she care for him? ” 

“ For a young person who abhors sentiment your 
voice indicates considerable concern for the Major’s 
unrequited affection.” 

She shook her head in laughing denial, her eyes 
on the bleached oak. 

“ But I am not the subject. The moment a man 
shows the slightest interest in me I feel like a por¬ 
cupine, all quills. And if he attempted to touch 
me, I should hate him.” 

“ Look out for that reef! ” 

Trafford thrust an arm forward on either side 
of her and gave the wheel a quick turn. For an 
instant she leaned back against him with her 
hands over her heart. Her boyishly cool eyes met 
his. 

'' After this, Mr. Trafford, no talking with the 
motorman. I-” 

'' Gorry-me, Jim! What do you mean by sayin’ 
there was a reef? ” Captain Phin was peering over 
the side of the boat. He met Trafford's eyes and 
subsided into a mutter. Julie had been too intent 
on her task to hear. 

Please give me the wheel again. I promise to 
keep my eyes and my mind on that tree. You look 
96 



HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

white. Did I frighten you? Do you think that I 
was fibbing when I boasted that I was an experi¬ 
enced skipper? ” 

Not when you said that, but on some subjects 
your statements are not absolutely reliable—^Miss 
Lorraine.’’ 

The launch with the Stars and Stripes floating at 
the stern entered the outer bay. The spaniel set¬ 
tled himself on the bow with his paws drooping 
over the edge, his head tip-tilted as he watched for 
the seals whose dripping, satiny heads kept bobbing 
above the water on the ledges. The sea was rough. 
Trafford dragged some oilskins from the locker. 
He tossed two to Buell and held one for the girl as 
he directed: 

'' Take the wheel while Miss Lorraine gets into 
this slicker, Captain Phin.” 

Do I need it? I think I do,” Julie gasped as a 
wave broke at the bow and drenched the inside of 
the boat. Trafford tucked her hat into his pocket 
and drew a sou’wester over her fair hair. He dried 
her dripping face with his handkerchief. 

Thanks lots. Lake sailing and sea sailing are 
not quite alike,” she admitted with a laugh. 

As Snow dropped anchor in a cove from which a 
cliff reared almost perpendicularly Julie whis¬ 
pered: 

''Look!” 


97 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


A crane standing knee-deep in water, one leg 
under him, long neck arched as he poked experi¬ 
mentally among the seaweed, shrilled an alarm and 
soared. With legs trailing behind him like ram¬ 
rods he winged into the west. 

What was it? 

A blue heron. They are the original first set¬ 
tlers. There has been a pair somewhere near that 
cliff since the beginning of its history.’^ 

The girFs eyes glowed with eagerness. 

You mustn’t mind if I lose my breath over this 
wonderful coast. I have never been at the sea be¬ 
fore,” she explained with her eyes on the stretch of 
pebbly beach and the ferns and bushes which tufted 
the ledges above the cove. 

Jim, take Miss Lorraine-Julie dragged 

her eyes away from the shore and faced the stern. 

Please call me Julie, Mrs. Trafford. Remem¬ 
ber that I am a country clergyman’s daughter and 
quite unused to formality in the parish.’’ 

Jim, take Julie first and some of the baskets. 
Then come back for the Major and me. Captain 
Phin has something to do to the engine.” 

The girl seated herself in the stern of the tender 
as Snow steadied it against the gunwale of the 
launch. As Trafford took the oars he frowned at 
her thoughtfully. 

I don’t care for the idea of leaving you alone 
98 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

on tlie shore ■while I go hack for the others. Cap¬ 
tain Phin is eternally fussing with that engine.” 

“Silly! What could happen to me? If a great 
big hear came along I could swim to the launch. 
I’ll collect driftwood for the fire while I’m waiting 
for the others.” 

She stood on the beach surrounded by baskets 
and watched him pull away. No wonder that his 
mother felt safe when he was in the boat, she 
thought. He was so companionable, not at all like 
Dal Carfax who had been showing slight symptoms 
of sentiment of late. Why, oh, why couldn’t men 
stay friendly? But why, oh, why was she spoiling 
this glorious minute thinking of unpleasant things, 
she demanded of herself. 

The sea and the air and rocky coast set her im¬ 
agination to galloping. She picked up a basket and 
went slowly toward the cliff. She whistled the air 
of “God’s in His heaven, all’s right with the 
world! ” from start to finish. As she reached the 
last exultant note she stopped in startled surprise. 
A fignire struggled up from a heap of seaweed at her 
feet. The man got as far as his knees and stopped 
and stared. His glance sent a million frosty shivers 
stealing down the girl’s spine. Then the million 
shivers congealed in one icy lump in her heart. 
The bleak eyes regarding her with mounting recog¬ 
nition in their depths were the eyes that had peered 
99 


EEEE COME& THE SUN ! 


into the cabin window, the eyes of the man whom 
Cheever had found curled up in the shed, the eyes 
of Willy Small. 


100 


CHAPTEE VII 


^‘CoMB back to earth, Marble-heart! You’re 
burning the bacon! ” sniffed William Jaffrey. 

You can’t cook and indulge in day-dreams and 
get away with it,” he protested from the other side 
of the circle of rocks within which glowed the red 
coals of driftwood. 

With an exclamation of dismay the girl ex¬ 
amined the cinder, once a fat, juicy strip, which 
dangled from the fork of the long stick in her 
hand. 

^^I’m sorry, Billy. I am so thrilled with this 
experience that I can’t keep my mind on what I 
am doing. My eyes will roam about this wonderful 
country. Look at Aunt Martha! Isn’t she funny? 
I’ll wager that she would stop to put on her veil 
and gloves if the last trump sounded.” 

Jaffrey’s eyes followed the girl’s. Seated on a 
fair sized boulder in the middle of the beach was 
the chatelaine of Shorehaven. She wore a thin 
black gown, a mourning hat with a white lined 
brim, a crape banded veil drawn tightly beneath 
her chin and black gloves. The formality of her 
costume was accentuated by the white and green 
sports perfection of Anne Trafford who was stirring 
the contents of a kettle which steamed over a small 
101 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


uprigM camp stove. Major Buell, coatless and 
with his white sleeves rolled above his elbows, was 
feeding the fire under it. Pamela Parlanan gener¬ 
ously displayed her chiffon textured hosiery as 
knees crossed, cigarette between her lips, she 
perched on a rock and directed Carfax and Trafford 
in the laying and provisioning of the cloth. The 
rough familiarity of the sea-breeze seemed not to 
have ruffled a hair of her satin-smooth head; her 
hands in loose white gloves were thrust into the 
pockets of her yellow sports coat. She had the 
manner of a queen x>ermitting her vassals the privi¬ 
lege of serving her. The spaniel roamed from group 
to group sniffing wistfully. Overhead the sky 
spread cloudlessly blue. Offshore a cabin-cruiser 
was anchored. One tender was drawn up on the 
beach, the other swung at the stern of the launch 
in which Captain Phin was busy at the engine. A 
few heavily wooded islands broke the illimitable 
expanse of sea. The clear air was rich with the 
spicy breath of balsams and appetizing with 
the aroma of coffee, broiling bacon, and cooking 
clams. 

Juliets glance stole to the sloping cliff. She had 
not explained to Billy that while the bacon burned 
her thoughts had been with the man who had sur¬ 
prised her on the beach. How had he come there? 
She had seen no boat. Had he recognized her as 
102 


MERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


the girl he had seen in the cabin by the stream? 
He had stared at her a dazed instant before he had 
scrambled up the cliff with the sidewise motion 
of a crab. Half-way to the top he had disappeared 
as suddenly as though a magician had prestidigi- 
tated him out of sight. But in the instant he had hesi¬ 
tated she had recognized the bleak blue eyes which 
had stared at her through the window. Should she 
tell Trafford? Her glance flew to the group by the 
improvised table. No, he seemed absorbed in 
Pamela Parkman. Why spoil the first day of vaca¬ 
tion he had in two weeks? Of course he must know 
soon that Willy Small had not left the county as 
Captain Phin had stated. She would tell him to¬ 
morrow, not to-day. It seemed as though she had 
been speculating for hours when Jaffrey’s voice an¬ 
swered her comment. 

Patience on a monument, smiling at Grief, 
thaPs Aunt Martha to the life. I doubt if a cloud¬ 
burst of emotion would stir her marcelle or flutter 
a ribbon. Pam Parkman will be a small edition of 
her when she is older. Look at her! She sits there 
as unruffled as though she had been recently re¬ 
moved from a wardrobe trunk or one of those things 
warranted not to crumple one’s belongings.” 

"" Bien soignee is the term for which you’re strug¬ 
gling,” Julie prompted. 

'' Kighto! Now as for you-” his green eyes 

103 


HERE COMEE THE SUN ! 

alight with amusement and affection appraised the 
girl. 

“ You can’t do things with the tips of your fin¬ 
gers, can you, Marble-heart? Where is your hat? 
Your hair has deserted the straight and narrow and 
is running wild, the wind has whipped it into little 
curls. There is a smudge the shape of the map of 
Ireland on your chin and one eye looks as though 
it had been set in your head by a sooty finger. 
Don’t touch it, you’ll make it worse. Come along 
with me while I wash your face.” 

He caught her hand and the two raced to the 
W'ater’s edge in laughing comradeship. After a 
rough but thorough application of his wet handker¬ 
chief Jaffrey held the girl off for inspection. 

‘^That’s better! You don’t look so piebald. 
We’re coming! ” he shouted in response to a hail. 

By the time the cloth was cleared and the dishes 
washed and packed in baskets the sun had begun 
to slant. A few creamy clots of cloud had ap¬ 
peared in the sky. Martha Marshall reentombed 
in veil and gloves sat erect on her boulder. Anne 
Trafford leaned comfortably against a tree-trunk 
while she knitted a soft pink and white thing. 
Buell near her was paying out wool from a ball in 
his hands. Carfax was stretched flat on his back 
beside Julie, quoting poetry between cigarettes. 
Trafford and the spaniel had rowed out to the 
104 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


launcli witli Captain PMn. Jaffrey beside Pamela 
Parkman was immersed in a newspaper. No one 
had spoken for quite five minutes when he ex¬ 
ploded : 

“ Holy smoke, I’ll get out of the writing game to¬ 
morrow and start raising dogs. Listen to this: 

“ ^ Owner of a blue-ribbon cocker 
spaniel sells prize-winner for one 
thousand dollars. Purchaser bought 
the dog for a present for his wife. 

His name has been withheld.’ ” 

<< I should think that a man who would pay one 
thousand dollars for a dog would want his name 
withheld,” commented Martha Marshall dryly. 
'' Julie, you had better turn that black spaniel of 
yours into money.” 

The girl looked up and met Jaffrey’s green eyes 
observing her intently over the edge of his paper. 
Her heart had given a sudden jump when he had 
read the item but of course it couldn’t be—she 
sprang to her feet. 

I would rather have Sweetie-peach than a thou¬ 
sand dollars, Aunt Martha. I am going for a row. 
This air drugs my mind to say nothing of my 
muscles. Will anyone come with me? ” Six pairs 
of eyes regarded her lazily. One at a time, don’t 
crowd, please! ” 


105 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


^^You are too darned energetic, Marble-heart,’’ 
groaned Jaffrey. 

Energetic! I have done nothing but play 
around with you and Dal since I reached this won¬ 
derland two weeks ago. I’m used to being a work¬ 
ing-woman, not a lady of leisure. A hard row will 
do me good.” 

'^Go with her. Dal,” commanded Martha Mar¬ 
shall. 

I don’t want him.” 

Carfax colored angrily but before he could utter 
the retort so evidently on his lips Jaffrey suggested 
blandly: 

Perhaps Miss Parkman would like to take the 
other pair of oars? ” He carefully avoided Julie’s 
indignant eyes. Pamela daintily ringed the smoke 
from her cigarette before she answered: 

Thank you, no. I am not athletic. I never 
venture into a boat without a man, neither do I 
waste time upon a girl,” she added with the blunt 
discourtesy she affected. She produced her vanity 
case and dexterously powdered her nose and chin. 
Mrs. Trafford’s lips compressed as she wrinkled her 
brow over a dropped stitch. Julie denatured the 
crisp retort on the tip of her tongue to an amused: 

My proposition appears to be as unpopular as 
the sixty-seventh Congress. However, I’m going. 
I’ll row around the headland. Who Imows but that 
106 


HEEE COME^ THE SUN ! 

I may discover a tourmaline mine and make my 
fortune? 

If it^s prospecting you want, scramble up that 
cliff and you^ll tumble into the entrance to the Mad 
Trafford^s copper-mine. Ah, well, if you persist in 
rowing, I suppose I can go with you, Marble-heart. 
That is, if no one else will.” Jaffrey grinned at 
Carfax who with heightened color and stubborn 
lines about his lips stolidly contemplated his ciga¬ 
rette. 

I haven't the heart to take advantage of your 
self-sacrificing offer, Billy,” Julie replied crisply. 
She looked at the watch on her wrist. May I 
have twenty minutes, Mrs. Trafford? I'll peek at 
what is on the other side of the cliff and come back. 
I have a passion for adventuring round comers.” 

^^Go on, child, we shan't start for at least a 
half hour,” Anne Trafford encouraged. ‘^Adven¬ 
ture to your heart's content. Nothing can happen 
to you with Jim and Captain Phin out there in 
our boat.” 

With practised ease Julie stepped into the tender 
and pushed off with an oar. She waved her hand 
to the colorful group on shore and took her seat. 
As she passed the launch Jim Trafford looked up 
and shouted, “ Where are you going? ” 

“I'm going a-rowing, kind sir, she said,” she 
flung back over her shoulder and sent the tender 
107 


HEBE COME^ THE SUN I 


forward witli a long, strong pull. The sea had 
quieted and rolled in lazy undulating waves. A 
kingfisher flashed bluely by. The sun was warm 
on her back. She put her hand to her nose which 
felt like a brand snatched from the burning. 

Every day in every way you^re getting redder 
and redder,” she laughed as she squinted at the 
shapely member. 

The tide was running strong when she reached 
the headland. It swept the tender round the cliff 
which on that side was bare and dented with cave¬ 
like hollows. It was devoid of vegetation except 
for one ancient oak which twisted out from the 
rock in the most approved Japanese-print fashion, 
and for a fringe of bushes at the top which gave 
to the promontory a pompadoured effect. As she 
rowed nearer the girl could see that they held blue¬ 
berries. Such bouncers! Could she get them? 

The sunny cove at the base of the cliff encour¬ 
aged her, the step-like crevices in the rock invited 
her, the berries lured her, the dazzling black and 
white No Trespassing sign at the top dared her. 
With an appraising glance at the sun she sent the 
lx)at forward. A wave carried the bow up on the 
beach. She made the painter fast to a low branch 
of the oak, pulled a tin pail from the locker and 
jumped out. With a rueful glance at her wet shoes 
she began to climb. 


108 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


The ascent was absurdly easy. At the top she 
stopped to look about her. She could see the vil¬ 
lage and the brooks that emptied into Glass Pond. 
They spread in all directions like the silver reins 
of a gigantic four-in-hand. Between the mills and 
the water she could just discern the green bun¬ 
galow. It looked more like a sinister dragon than 
ever at this distance, the girl thought. What had 
Jim Trafford heard about Cheever? Whatever it 
was she could trust him to take the right step. He 
had told her to put the thing out of her mind. She 
would—if she could. 

She looked at the smooth green plateau which the 
berry-bushes fringed. Who would believe that the 
rocky ledge was crowned with such velvety rich¬ 
ness? Julie wrinkled her brows over its posted 
condition. 

It looks as though there had been an explosion 
of Danger signs,she confided to herself. What 
was the owner’s idea? He couldn’t be trying to 
conserve the fruit on those few bushes; that would 
be absurd. WTiistling softly she stripped the ber¬ 
ries into her pail. As she reached for an elusive 
spray her eyes wandered to the green field. With 
a startled sound in her throat she dropped to her 
knees. Cautiously she parted the bushes. Breath¬ 
lessly she peered through. Was she dreaming? 
Had a patch of earth risen slowly from the ground? 

109 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


It wasn’t a dream! It wasn’t! A head' emerged 
slowly from the opening. Two bleak eyes shifted 
from end to end of the field with the wariness of 
those of a prairie-dog in front of his hole. The head 
ducked. The sod fell noiselessly into place. Julie 
sank back on her heels. 

Willy Small 1 What did his presence here mean? 
What sort of a retreat did that trap-door indicate? 
Was he hiding from the authorities on account of 
Cheever’s accident? Had the subterranean cave 
any connection with Jim Trafiord’s suspicions 
about the state senator and his methods? 

Hallo-o-o!” 

The hail from below sent Julie’s heart into her 
mouth. Someone had come for her. Would Small 
be watching? If he saw her he might suspect that 
she had recognized him. With the handle of the 
pail between her teeth she crawled on hands and 
knees to the spot where she had entered the bushes. 
She slid part way down the cliff. When she stood 
up she saw Trafford leaping from ledge to ledge 
toward her. Below Captain Phin was steering 
the motor-launch in slowly widening circles. The 
black spaniel was stretched on a locker. Pamela 
Parkman sat in the stern as immaculate as 
when she left her room that morning. Julie was 
indignantly conscious of her own tousled appear¬ 
ance. 


110 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


Now why did he have to bring her? she pro¬ 
tested under her breath. 

How the dickens did yon get here? ” Trafford 
demanded as they met half-way down the cliff. 

How the dickens did you get here? ” 

He laughed at her careful imitation of his tone. 
“ Captain Phin landed me on the rocks. We saw 
the tender in the cove. Billy has taken the rest of 
the party in your aunt’s boat. Didn’t you see that 
No Trespassing sign? The old copper-mine honey¬ 
combs this cliff and you ran liine chances out of 
ten of going down a hole.” 

So this is your land too. Don’t scold. I kept in 
among the berry-bushes. I didn’t go into the field. 
Your mother thought it quite all right for me to 
adventure alone. Billy didn’t want to come and I 
didn’t want Dal.” 

Why? Has he been making love to you? ” 

The explosive quality of the question startled 
Julie. She slipped. Trafford steadied her by an 
arm about her shoulders. Her eyes and voice 
laughed as she shook her head. 

You force me to the humiliating confession 
that I really don’t know what ^making love’ is 
like.” 

Shall I show you? ” 

The roughness of his voice sent the girl’s puz¬ 
zled eyes to his. His quick, cool laugh reassured 
111 


HERE COMEE TEE SUE ! 


her. Was it accident or design, she wondered, that 
his glance droppedl to the figure in the stem of the 
launch as he suggested: 

Perhaps I need experience too.’^ 

Don’t experiment with me. I refuse to have 
our friendship spoiled. I feel so secure with you 
and Billy. Perhaps it is because I saw my five 
sisters through malignant love-affairs that I have 
such an aversion to sentiment. I hope that I am 
not one of those athletic creatures who are tem¬ 
peramentally incapable of loving.” At the un¬ 
qualified dismay in her tone Trafford threw back 
his head and shouted with laughter. I don’t see 
anything particularly funny in that. It isn’t a joke 
to feel iced the moment a man shows that he likes 
you,” she defended indignantly as she stepped into 
the tender. Trafford untied the painter, pushed off 
the boat and jumped in. 

Don’t worry about your unresponsiveness. 
Keep on feeling secure with Billy and me. We’ll 
stand guard over the Sleeping Beauty till her 
Prince Charming arrives.” 

^^In spite of the fact that you won’t take me 
seriously you have a steam-roller way of smoothing 
out my problems.” She smiled at him radiantly 
but the lines between the man’s eyes deepened. 

I didn’t smooth out that cabin situation.” 

Only because I mixed it so hopelessly, Mr. 

112 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


Trafford.’’ Ought she to tell him that she had seen 
Small, Julie considered. No, she would wait until 
to-morrow. He should have his holiday. 

You calledi me ‘ Jim ’ when you told Cheever 
that we were- 

Don^t whisper it! That was an emergency 
measure. Of course I will dispense with formality 
if you care to have me. I think of you as ^ Jim.^ 

Thank you. I confess that I was horribly jeal¬ 
ous when you called Carfax by his first name. You 
met him after you met me.” 

But I have been living in the same house with 
Dal for two weeks. A house-party is a quick 
worker. It splits friendships or welds them with 
amazing speed.” 

Then it is a pity that I cannot accept your 
aunt^s invitation to spend the time between now 
and election at Shorehaven. I should like our 

friendship to be welded indissolubly- Mother, 

Pamela and Major Buell are going over this after¬ 
noon for a visit. Your aunt proposed the plan 
after you left in the tender. I am glad for Mother 
to have the change. She keeps so everlastingly 
busy with her classes for the girls at the mill, visit¬ 
ing the sick and coddling the old ladies in the vil¬ 
lage. Then while Sarah Beddle is invaluable Ill 
admit that she is wearing when she dons the 
martyr’s crown.” 


113 




HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


It will be delightful to have your mother with 
us. Why can’t you come? 

I—I—oh, until after election Brick House is 
the best place for me. Your aunt, Jaffrey and Car- 
fax have gone there for tea while Mother and Pam 
pack up. You are to join them.’^ 

^^For tea! I can’t go like this! Look at me! 
Drop me at our float. I’ll dash up to Shorehaven, 
leave Sweetie-peach, make myself presentable and 
drive over in the roadster. They will need the extra 
car for the luggage.” 

As they reached the launch Trafford shipped his 
oars and Captain Phin seized the tender. The 
spaniel’s tail thumped a languid greeting. Pamela 
Parkman’s dark brows arched as she complained: 

“ I thought you would never come, Jim. Miss 
Lorraine, you have broken up the party.” 

“ I’m sorry,” Julie apologized as she stepped to 
the seat of the launch. The tin pail dangled from 
her arm. She joined Snow at the wheel. He waited 
until Jim Trafford had made the tender fast, then 
put on full speed. As the launch cut through the 
waves Julie confided: 

See what I found at the top of the cliff, Captain 
Phin! I’ll come to your cottage to-morrow and 
make a berry-pie to pay for keeping you waiting 
here.” 

I’d like the pie first-rate but gorry-me, whaPd 
114 


HERE COME^ TEE SUN ! 


you go up among them bushes for? Jim was fit 
to tie when he see you. Didn’t you read that sign? ” 

Yes, but I didn’t go far. Doesn’t anyone ever 
go up on that land? ” 

Why should they want to go fer? It’s a wild 
spot an’ it’s dangerous. The Trafford who was 
buncoed into openin’ up thet mine didn’t quit until 
he’d run shafts in all directions. There used to be 
a lot of buildin’s but Jim had them taken down 
an’ the openin’s protected as far’s he could. He’s 
kept the inside jest’s it was even to some of the 
wheelbarrers an’ tools.” 

Isn’t it a temptation to someone to steal? ” 
Captain Phin’s gums showed in a grin. I guess 
by the time a thief got them things out they’d cost 
him more’n he could buy new for. The townspeople 
don’t trouble Blue Heron Cove much. You see, 
when the Mad Trafford put them sapphires 
in-” 

Did he bury the stones there? ” 

Gorry-me, no. Not the jewels themselves; he 
sold ’em an’-” 

“ He wasn’t the first man who has sunk family 
jewels in speculation.” 

You said somethin’ then. I expect this specu¬ 
lation business is the same bug under another name 
that bit them old buccaneers when they started out 
to pick up what they could on the high seas. Ben 
115 




HEBE GOMES THE SUN ! 


Cheever’s jest like that. He's always dabblin’ in 
somethin' new to make a cent instead of stickin' to 
his mills." 

“Poor man, nothing matters to him now, does 
it?" 

Snow scowled at a sailboat which was tacking 
in his direction. “I dunno, I dunno. Since I 
talked with you this mornin' one of the villagers 
who come alongside this boat to borrow a tool told 

me that Cheever was- Gorry-me, Julie, you 

look kinder white. Better go sit in the stern where 
there ain't so much pitchin'." 

“ I'm all right, Captain Phin. What were you 
saying about Cheever? " 

“ I guess perhaps I'd better tell Jim too." He 
turned his head and shouted over his shoulder: 

“Hi, Jim! They say Cheever's up an' round 
again, talldn' loud about beatin' you hands down." 


116 



CHAPTER VIII 


In a linen frock which matched her eyes when 
they were bluest Julie stopped for an instant in the 
drive to look up at Brick House. Twenty-four 
paned windows gazed benignly back at her from its 
velvety red surface. The old wrought iron door 
latch with its curved lift proclaimed it as belonging 
to that period when men occupied themselves more 
with making homes and building character and 
background than with making money. To the girl 
the mellow old house had a look of brooding tender¬ 
ness as though in its warm embrace it had soothed 
heartaches, had laughed and sympathized with 
youth, had welcomed the coming, sped the parting 
guest, had celebrated births and bridals and had 
cared lovingly for the aged until it lingeringly re¬ 
leased them to more tender care. 

It was not surprising, Julie thought as she went 
on, that Jim Trafford loved the place and was eager 
to uphold its traditions. She paused under an 
arbor in the hedge. Before her stretched lawns 
like green velour. Beyond them was a high brick 
wall from the top of which tumbled cascades of 
white clematis. In the middle of the wall the two 
sides of a massive wooden door were thrown back 
117 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


to give a glimpse of stepping-stones which led into 
the cathedral-like solemnity of a forest. On either 
side of the door giant spikes of monk’s-hood, the 
flame of gladioli, a fringe of pink cosmos, opaline 
mists of stevia, hollyhocks in pink and carmine 
made a riot of color, sighed a perfumed breath at 
every touch of the light breeze. Against the east¬ 
ern wall a row of beehives hummed with industry; 
on one of the lawns an iridescent peacock strutted 
before a mirror set in the ground. 

Anne Trafford, in a fan-back wicker chair of the 
inspired type designed as a background for lovely 
woman, was dispensing tea from the tray in front 
of her. Martha Marshall with veil thrown back 
and gloves removed was chatting with Major Buell 
whose ardent eyes were on his hostess. Julie 
judged from the motion of her aunt’s white hands 
with their flashing rings that she had mounted her 
favorite hobby, astrology. Pamela Parkman had 
commandeered both Jaflrey and Carfax who were 
busy supplying her innumerable wants. 

Where was Jim Trafford, the girl wondered. 
Had he sensed the full significance of the news Cap¬ 
tain Phin had flung at him? WTiat would happen 
now? Had Cheever’s journey to the borderland of 
eternity ennobled him or was he an exemplification 
of that old saw: 

“ Wlien the devil was ill the devil a saint 'would 
118 


HERE COMES THE SUE ! 

be; when tbe devil was, well, devil a saint was 
he’^ ? 

Julie, you were a quitter wben you wriggled 
out of acknowledging that marriage,’' she con¬ 
demned herself. If Jim Trafford lost the election 
would it be her fault? Suppose he were beaten by 
that horrid, untrue story of Cheever’s? For the 
first time in her twenty-three years the girl’s sense 
of expediency failed her. She felt like a caged 
squirrel running round and round to find a way 
out. She gripped her imagination. Nothing had 
happened yet, she reminded herself. Why was she 
worrying? Wasn’t Jim quite equal to the situa¬ 
tion? She had boasted that she loved to approach 
corners. She was afraid to peer round this one, 
starldy afraid. She tried to respond to Anne Traf- 
ford’s smile as she looked up and greeted her. 

Here is the laggard. Come and have your tea, 
Julie. Jim had to call up the mill as soon as he 
reached the house so I haven’t heard how youi 
rowing adventure turned out.” 

Julie’s heart warmed to the affection in the 
woman’s voice. She matched the gaiety of her tone 
as she deplored: 

'' Could you have seen me when I emerged from 
the blueberry jungle you would wonder that I have 
appeared as soon and as presentably as I have. 
Am I not presentable, Dal? ” she challenged as she 
119 


HERE COMES TEE SUN ! 


met Carfax’s reproacMul eyes. She seated herself 
on a low wicker divan. I should love a piece of 
that chocolate cake if you don’t want it all.” 

Carfax presented the laden stand and seated him¬ 
self beside her. 

Why didn’t you want me to come in the boat 
with you? ” 

Martyr! You know that you were bored to 
extinction when I suggested a row. A stick of 
dynamite out adventuring for something to blow 
up would have passed you by as immovable, you 
looked so lazy. Lucky you didn’t come. You 
would have hated the tangle of bushes I landed in. 
Look at that! ” She extended a scratched palm. 

It feels as though it had been harrowed with a 
vegetable grater and seeded down with thorns. I 
didn’t stop at Shorehaven to pull the horrid things 
out; I was afraid that I would be late for tea. They 
are mighty uncomfortable.” 

With an exclamation of concern Carfax caught 
the slender hand in his. ''I can get those out, 
Julie.” He drew a knife from his pocket and 
opened out a slim pair of tweezers. His blond 
hair touched the girl’s head as he bent over her 
hand. “ See that—and that? Just a minute. There 
is one more.” 

Is this a first-aid station, Carfax? ” 

Julie jerked her hand free and looked up at Traf- 
120 


HEBE COMEB THE SUN ! 


ford at her elbow. There was a warning rigidity 
about his jaws, the creases between his brows were 
deep, his gray eyes were black. The girPs heart 
stopped for a moment, then pounded on. Had he 
heard something more about Cheever? She must 
have a talk with him before she left. He ought to 
know that Willy Small was hibernating in the cliff. 
What excuse could she make to get him away? She 
had an inspiration: 

^^Mr. Trafford, won’t you present me to the 
Duchess? I so want to see those famous sap¬ 
phires.” 

Billy, take Miss Lorraine to the living-room 
and show her the portrait. Mother, have you some 
tea for me? ” 

Julie had the sensation of having been suddenly 
and expertly ducked into icy water. What had she 
said that she should not have said, she wondered as 
she followed Jaffrey through the garden. Indig¬ 
nation tilted her chin. Why should she worry 
about The Trafford’s election, if he didn’t, she asked 
herself scornfully. 

Her annoyance oozed as she entered the living- 
room. The restful atmosphere soothed her per¬ 
turbed spirit. The walls were a deep tan. The 
satin polish of old mahogany reflected the light of 
the fire in the Franklin grate. On the hearth-rug, 
like a sentinel, a yellow coon-cat sat motionless on 
121 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

its liaunclies, observing tbe intruders through dark 
slits in topaz eyes. Across the room double doors 
opened into a book-lined study which had French 
windows that faced the sea. There was a large 
couch at right angles with the fireplace. Over the 
mantel hung the only picture in the room. It was 
the portrait of a fair-haired woman in stiff blue 
and gold brocade, with eyes the color of the satin 
of her gown. Under one plump bare arm was a 
King Charles spaniel. In the fingers of the other 
hand, on one of which was a great sapphire, she held 
a round cracker. There were sapphire buttons on 
her bodice, sapphire clusters at her ears, a bow of 
sapphires against her fair hair which was bound 
about her head in braids. She was beautiful, 
stately, slightly cynical as she looked down into the 
vivid face upturned to hers. 

IsnT she g-grand, Billy? ” 

She is. You have heard the story of the First 
Trafford, of course, but that isnT a patch on the 
thrills which came later.^’ 

Julie perched on the arm of the couch and gazed 
up at the portrait. 

“ Tell me about it, Billy.” 

Once upon a time an enterprising Trafford, per¬ 
haps of the fourth dynasty, sold the sapphires to 
finance a copper-mine. Thereupon his aged sire 
cursed him richly and racily. Whereupon the royal 
122 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


dame began to roam. None of tbe villagers will ad¬ 
mit it but even in this age and generation you 
couldn^t induce one of them to play round Blue 
Heron Cove after tbe R Z T hours.” 

''RTZhour? Wbat is that, Billy? ” 

“ Radio. At exactly eight p. m. everyone com¬ 
mences to listen-in. You won’t meet a person on 
the street. The Duchess has the evening quite to 
herself in which to search for the missing jewels.” 

^^We picnicked near that same copper-mine to¬ 
day, did we not? ” 

We did. It runs through the cliff you were so 
eager to investigate. They say, that on foggy nights 
a c-curious 1-luminous m-mist floats about the en¬ 
trance. Some superstitious dumb-bell started the 
story that it was the D-Duchess h-hunting for the 
Most sapphires.” There was a shiver in Jaffrey’s 
every syllable. In spite of her amused apprecia¬ 
tion of his artistry his tone sent a responsive tingle 
along Julie’s nerves. 

'^Nonsense, Billy! How can intelligent persons 
give credence to that absurd yarn? It s your best¬ 
seller imagination.” 

If it is what do you make of this fact? When 
Mrs. Trafford appeared at a fancy-dress ball last 
summer in the costume of the Duchess ^repro¬ 
duced to a thread except for the sapphires ^the 
chairman of the village committee politely but 
123 


HERE GOMEB THE SUN ! 


firmly requested her to go home and take it off. It 
had tumbled the temperature of the festivity to 
below zero.” 

Did she go? ” 

“ She did, like the thoroughbred she is. Hung it 
up and went back in the costume of the sixties she 
had found in the attic.” He stifled a prodigious 
yawn behind his plump hand. My word, but 
these high-noon chowder fests make me sleepy. 
Let’s make our get-away and have a few sets of 
tennis before dinner.” 

Just as you say, Billy. I strive to please. I 
love this room. I felt as though I had been caught 
in tender arms as I entered it. If I lived here I 
should fall victim to a virulent attack of ancestor- 
worship. Isn’t Mrs. Trafford a dear? ” 

Too dear for her own good. Imagine a woman 
like that having a girl like Pam flung at her to 
guard.” 

They seem decades ax)art in manners and 
ideas.” 

They are. Pamela’s father died when she was 
eighteefl. He was a one-time adorer of Mrs. Traf- 
ford’s. If the girl marries a man of whom her 
guardian disapproves, her property will be tied up 
in a trust. She was furious when she found that 
she had been left under guardianship. I’ll say that 
Mrs. Trafford was not any more pleased.” 

124 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


Wliy did she accept the trust? ” 

Because she is like you, Julie; her duty complex 
is abnormally developed. She shouldered the re¬ 
sponsibility and has Pam with her when the girl 
isn’t traveling. The logical outcome of the situa¬ 
tion would be for Jim to marry her and add her 
fortune to his own. Perhaps her father thought of 
that.” 

Has he so much money, Billy? ” 

Boy, I should say he had! So much that with 
his chivalrous make-up it’s a wonder to me that he 
has escaped the innumerable snares set by fair-sex 
trappers. You got a nice burn to-day. Marble- 
heart; an Inness sunset has nothing on your face.” 

a it^s_ips partly the fire, Billy. We had better 
start if you want tennis. Here comes Aunt Martha. 
Tell her that we are going,” Julie suggested as Mrs. 
Marshall followed by Major Buell entered the room. 
The woman was triumphantly concluding an argu¬ 
ment. 

Laugh if you like. Major, but I can prove that 
astrology is a science to be regarded with respect. 
Take to-day, for instance; the dominating influence 
is martial impelling to turbulent and aggressive 
acts, maldng the actions and temperament gener¬ 
ally ill-governed. It would be well for us all to 
keep our affairs under firm and cool control if the 
fortunate aspect between certain luminaries is to 
125 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


govern. Wliile you are at Shoreliaven I will ex¬ 
plain my charts, Major. Julie, Mrs. Trafford wants 
you in the garden. There is a rare blossom she 
thinks you will appreciate. She is to drive to 
Shorehaven later with her son, who will dine with 
us. She suggested that you wait and go with them. 
The rest of us are going now. Pamela has gone 
for her coat. Billy, will you and Dal- 

Julie did not wait for the rest of the sentence. 
As she stepped into the garden she saw Trafford 
and his mother standing by the tea-table. The pea¬ 
cock on the wall above them had his tail wide¬ 
spread as though with its iridescent beauty to chal¬ 
lenge the cloud-tinting sun to competition. 

What did Mrs. Trafford want of her, the girl 
wondered. Of course she had not been summoned 
to see a blossom. Was the mother in her son’s 
confidence? Was- 

Julie’s mind spun for an instant and steadied. 
Was that Cheever standing in the garden doorway 
or had she thought of him so much that her imagi¬ 
nation had projected his counterpart? 

The dominating influence to-day is martial. 
It w’ould be well for us all to keep our affairs under 
firm and cool control,” Julie reminded herself under 
her breath. There was no doubt but that the man 
she saw was flesh and blood. The last time she had 
seen him he had been enveloped in a dripping rain- 
126 




HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

coat, liis tMn dark hair had been plastered to bis 
bead by tbe storm. Now in bis immaculate sports 
clothes be might have served for tbe advertisement 
of tbe well-dressed man. Tbe long strip of plaster 
on bis cheek gave him a malevolent look; bis pallor 
accentuated tbe burning intentness of bis dark eyes 
as be approached Mrs. Trafford who greeted Mm 
with outstretched band. 

What should she do, Julie wondered. She would 
not complicate tbe situation by impulsiveness this 
time. There was nothing for her to do. Hadn't 
Jim said that be would take tbe responsibility of 
tbe next move? If be would only look at her. As 
though be sensed her thought he turned. He held 
out bis band and looked straight into her eyes. 

Come here, Julie. You have met Cbeever be¬ 
fore. Ben, of course you remember my wife? 


127 


CHAPTER IX 


“ My wife! 

The words jangled through Julie’s mind like a 
sharply pulled bell till they tinkled into stillness. 
In the silence which followed Jim Trafford’s an¬ 
nouncement the hiveward humming of a honey¬ 
laden bee rumbled like an express train against the 
girl’s ear-drum. Slow color tinted the pallor of her 
startled face as she forced herself to meet Cheever’s 
eyes. To her amazement they showed not a trace 
of mockery. His expression was puzzled, dazed as 
he looked from the girl to the woman and on to 
Trafford. The master of Brick House was colorless. 
He gave the impression that his spirit was crouched 
to spring. Cheever’s laugh was embarrassed. He 
brushed an unsteady hand across his eyes. 

Remember her! I didn’t know that you were 
married, Jim. I had thought that you and Pamela 
—that isn’t a tactful thing to say, is it? Forgive 
me. I am as good as new except that I can re¬ 
member nothing that happened from a week before 
my accident until I opened my eyes a week ago. 
Perhaps your engagement was announced during 
that time. The lapse of memory is most unfor¬ 
tunate just now. I mean to do some of my cam- 
128 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


paigning over again, but this time I also will cut 
out the mud-slinging. One doesn’t just escape 
the boatman on the river Styx without learniDg 
something. My congratulations to you and The 
Trafford, Mrs. Jim. Is Miss Parkman at 
home? ” 

She is in the house unless she has already 
started for Shorehaven, Ben. Shall we try to find 
her? ” Anne Trafford’s voice was uneven. Antici¬ 
pating his consent she led the way along the garden 
path. 

The two left behind might have been modishly 
appareled garden statues they stood so still. 
Swaying shrubs dappled them with shadows. The 
peacock stared down with bead-like eyes as he cau¬ 
tiously furled his tail-feathers. As the house door 
closed Trafford turned to the girl. Julie’s heart 
winged to her throat. She put up her hand to still 
its throbbing. Keep our affairs under firm and 
cool control,” she parroted to herself. The man’s 
voice was rough as he apologized: 

I’m sorry that it had to come—^this way, Julie.” 
His sincerity quieted the wild beating of the girl’s 
heart. Her protest was eager: 

Don’t be sorry, donH! I am glad to have the 
truth out. I have been living a lie and all the while 
I have felt as though I were dishonoring Dad and 
his profession. The sword of Damocles was a tin 
129 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


toy to what I have sensed hanging over my head 
these last two weeks. Even if Cheever does not re¬ 
member—but do you believe that he doesn^t? ” 

I don^t know what to believe, Julie. If I had 
not announced the marriage and he had made no 
reference to it, I should have thought that he was 
running true to form and attempting to lull us into 
security by pretending ignorance. However, he has 
nothing to gain by that bluff now.’^ 

Will he refrain from mud-slinging? ’’ 

Trafford laughed. ^‘As he can find no mud to 
sling he may have been sincere in that statement. 
I should have more faith in his change of heart had 
—oh, well, what is the use speculating? You and 
I will have to walk straight on now with our heads 
high. There will be the usual nine days’ riot of 
speculation and gossip before state politics, which 
are hectic this year, will submerge us.” 

Thank heaven for that. We will go straight 
on. If you can do it I can, for you must hate the 
situation as much as I,” Julie sympathized with 
unflattering honesty. Where do we go from 
here? ” He smiled at her apt adaptation of a cur¬ 
rent phrase. 

“ To Shorehaven. We will make a dramatic an¬ 
nouncement of our marriage. Then you will come 
back to Brick House with me.” 

Alone! 


130 


HEBE COMES THE SUN / 


Trafford^s spontaneous laugh, showed his white, 
even teeth. 

“ Of course we could bring Mother and Pam with 
us, but- 

Juliets color heightened. Her eyes flashed with 
indignation. 

Don^t laugh. Ho you realize what a mixi-up we 
are in? ” She put her hand suddenly to her throat 
to detain a sob which was tearing its way up. Traf- 
ford's face was white as he caught her wrist. 

Julie! ” 

She twisted herself free. Don’t! What shall 
we say? How shall we explain? Who will tell 
them—Aunt Martha ? I suppose that Julie’ll ” 

Julie won’t, this time. I will,” Trafford cut in 
quietly. From now on you are to drop the burden 
of this situation to my shoulders. I’ll carry it. Here 
is Mother. Cry it out in her arms, Goldilocks, while 
I get ready to take you to Shorehaven.” He started 
for the house as Anne Trafford entered the garden. 
The woman’s eyes were warm with tenderness as 
she caught the girl’s hands. 

I hope that you are not angry, Julie, but it 
seemed the only thing to do. Jim heard to-day that 
Cheever was up and out again. He wanted a chance 
to talk with you so I sent for you to come to the 
garden. When Ben appeared so unexpectedly Jim 
cut the Gordian knot.” 


131 




HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


And you kuew all tlie time? ” 

When we reached home after dinner at Shore- 
haven the night of your arrival there, Jim told 
me of the cabin episode and its results. I told 
him then, and I still think the same, that you 
should have acknowledged your marriage at 
once.” 

Don’t blame him. It was my fault. I welshed. 
I thought that if only he and I knew we could slip 
out of the contract more easily. The whole miser¬ 
able business came from my impulsive lie to Chee- 
ver. It was a blunder, I suppose, but even now I 
don’t see how I could have done differently. Don’t 
hate me! ” 

Hate you! Honey-girl, I love you for trying to 
help my boy. Whenever I have had qualms over 
the situation I have visualized your face and back 
has swept my confidence that the matter would 
straighten out. You will never know until you 
have a son of your own, Julie, a mother’s anxiety 
that her boy may find the right girl. A wife can so 
effectually make or mar a man.” 

The girl’s voice was hoarse with protest. 

^^But this isn’t a real marriage. It—^it is an 
emergency measure.” 

I understand, child. I don’t know what started 
me to moralizing; it’s a pernicious habit of mine. 
It was an outrageous situation for you to be forced 
132 


HEBE GOMES THE SUN ! 

into a ceremony with a man you had seen but a few 
hours.” 

There are occasions when a few hours are as 
good as a lifetime in which to become friends, and 
that was one of them. I liked your son the moment 
I looked up and saw him on the hill. By the time 
we had finished supper I should not have been 
afraid to follow him anywhere. He is more like 
Billy than any man I have met. They are both 
cool and unsentimentally friendly.” 

“ So-o, you prefer men of the wood and stone 
variety. I wonder- There is a tinge of cave¬ 

man in the make-up of the Trafiords, and I had 
thought that Jim—however, you never can tell.” 
She checked a young, delicious ripple of laugh¬ 
ter. Her eyes shone with repressed mirth as she 
went on, Have you and Jim decided upon the 
next move, honey-girl? ” She slipped her arm about 
Juliets waist and moved toward the house. 

He thinks that I should come here.” 

Anne Trafford^s voice was brisk with practicality. 

^^Of course. This afternoon^s denouement has 
been heaven-sent—^for me. I disliked to leave Jim 
alone. Now that he will have you for company I 
shall luxuriate in my vacation. Sarah Beddle 
the divine Sarah Jim calls her—^is the eighth won¬ 
der of the world when it comes to efficiency, but she 
gets on my nerves after a while. She is one of those 
133 



HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! 


from-tlie’Cradle-to-tlie-grave monologists when once 
she gets started. Well go up and plan your rooms 
while Jim is dressing, then I will break the news 
to Sarah. She has the second maid Charity trained 
to perfection so there will be nothing for you to do.” 

Nothing to do! The words echoed through 
Julie’s mind as she followed Anne Trafford into the 
house. Was it only two weeks ago that she had 
proclaimed her intention of thinking only of her¬ 
self? And now she had her chance. Nothing to 
do! It was the last maddening crooked nail driven 
into the wobbly matrimonial structure she and 
Trafford had erected. 


134 


CHAPTER X 


The tall clock at Brick House boomed eleven. 
Julie released ber cMn from ber cupped bands and 
looked about ber. A lamp in a distant comer 
radiated a soft glow; tbe only other light in the 
living-room came from tbe red coals of tbe fire. 
Six hours before she and Billy bad been chatting 
under tbe portrait, now she was back again to stay 
—for a time. 

She sprang to ber feet and moved restlessly 
about, tbe crystals on ber violet dinner frock flash¬ 
ing into infinitesimal rainbows at every step. Her 
position at the present moment was grotesquely ab¬ 
surd, but no more absurd than that initial situa¬ 
tion at tbe cabin. Julie sneakingly wondered if 
perhaps there were such a thing as a conjunction 
of planets which set extraordinary events in mo¬ 
tion. 

With a sigh of futility she curled up on a corner 
of the couch and stared back at the fluffy yellow 
cat who sat on its haunches regarding her with 
inscrutable topaz eyes. She had been in that same 
spot in the afternoon. Was she watching before 
the pictured remains of the Duchess as the statue 
of a cat had watched before the tomb of King Tut- 
135 


EEEE COMES TEE SUN ! 


anldiamen for three thousand years, the girl won¬ 
dered fancifully. 

Her thoughts flashed back to the evening just 
passed at Shorehaven. While she in her room had 
written to her parents a true account of her mar¬ 
riage, Trafford had announced it down-stairs. He 
had flrst had a private interview with Mrs. Mar¬ 
shall when he had told her the facts under an oath 
of secrecy. To the others he had made the explana¬ 
tion upon which he and Julie had agreed. Julie 
had begged her father and mother to cooperate in 
keeping the true inwardness of the affair quiet until 
after election. 

When she had made her lagging appearance in 
the great hall she had been amazed at her aunt^s 
triumphant tenderness; she had expected icy disap¬ 
proval. Billy had been non-committal, Carfax 
gloomily aggrieved, Pamela Parkman^s eyes had 
burned with anger, fury had seethed beneath the 
surface conventionality of her congratulations. 
Major Buell had been unaffectedly radiant. Did 
he think that her son’s marriage would give him 
Anne Trafford, the girl wondered. 

It had been a horrible evening, a nightmarish 
evening, Julie thought, as she gazed into the fire. 
Awkward silences had been charged with electric 
questions which no one had had the courage to 
snap on. She had been honestly relieved when the 
136 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

time liad come for lier to drive back to Brick House 
witk Jim Trafford. They were co-victims of a mis¬ 
adventure for which she alone was responsible; she 
could not blink that fact, even if he was too chiv¬ 
alrous to admit it,—and it would be a relief to talk 
things over with him. 

Mrs. Marshall and her guests had waved them 
good luck from the veranda, but in spite of Billyhs 
old shoe and a shower of rice the departure had 
taken on more the air of a funeral than a honey¬ 
moon. As they had started down the drive in Jim’s 
roadster with the black spaniel on the seat between 
them, Julie had looked up at him with a laugh in 
her eyes but he had been intent on the wheel. They 
had driven in silence through cool, fragrant air un¬ 
der a star-stippled sky. When they had arrived at 
Brick House Carlotta, the maid, was taking her 
fluttering departure after having unpacked the 
trunks which Mrs. Marshall had sent over from 
Shorehaven. Trafford had left Julie in the hall 
and had driven to the village to post her letter to 
her parents. 

Thank heaven that the suspense was over, the 
girl thought. She would play her part her sport¬ 
ing best until election. The day after she would 
start for home and free Jim to untangle the situa¬ 
tion. 

Would she? Her life had suddenly surged out 
137 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


of its worn channel to tumble and leap through 
new country, to change in color and speed, to con¬ 
fuse, to excite, to stimulate. It had swept her along 
in breathless expectancy but always she felt the 
standards and inhibitions which had been bred into 
her clutching at the skirts of her conscience. 
Emergency measure that it was, would she ever feel 
honest again if she broke that marriage con¬ 
tract? , 

Silly, of course you would,” she encouraged her¬ 
self. If it comes to a question of your conscience 
or your freedom, remember your all-for-self pro¬ 
gram. Besides, Jim Trafford^s life can’t be gov¬ 
erned by your upbringing.” 

She glanced at the clock. Had it stopped? Ho. 
Could it be but five minutes since it had struck the 
hour? Jim had asked her to wait down-stairs until 
his return. He had been so unlike himself driving 
over that she dreaded his coming. What should 
she say to break the ice of the awkward situa¬ 
tion? 

How quiet the house was! She looked up at the 
portrait. The cynical eyes of the Duchess had 
watched many generations come and go. Did the 
departed spirits keep vigil over their old haunts? 
With her dreamy eyes on the pictured face, her 
ringless hands clasped behind her head, the girl 
repeated Longfellow’s lines softly: 

138 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


** 'All houses wherein men have lived and died 
Are haunted houses. Through the open doors 
The harmless phantoms on their errands glide, 
With feet that make no sound upon the floors.’ ” 

The musing rhythm of the words lured the yellow 
cat. Fluffy tail rampant she brushed back and 
forth against Julie’s skirts, then with a soft sound 
sprang into her lap and snuggled. A friendly hand 
stroked her silky fur as the velvety voice went on: 

" 'We meet them at the doorway, on the stairs, 
Along the passages they come and go. 

Impalpable impressions on the air, 

A sense of something moving to and fro. ’ 

''' A sense of something moving to and fro,’ ” the 
girl repeated in a whisper as though afraid of dis¬ 
turbing the harmless phantoms of the old house as 
they glided about on their ghostly errands. The 
line sounded delightfully busy, she thought wist¬ 
fully. Her mind flashed back to Anne Trafford’s, 
" There will be nothing to do.” Could any condi¬ 
tion be more boring? Since her eighteenth year 
her days had been packed with duties. She had 
helped her father in the parish and because of the 
impossibility of securing a resident physician in so 
small a town, she had been requisitioned in many 
capacities. She had assisted at births and deaths, 
she had done housework and churchwork, she had 
139 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


read and studied. Her two weeks at SJioreliaven 
had resembled nothing so much as a lazy dream. 
She was glad that the lotus-eating epoch was over. 
She would find something to do. 

Footsteps in the hall, a rush through the room 
shattered her revery. There was a series of ex¬ 
plosive Ststs! Ststs! Ststs! ” from the yellow 
cat as she leaped from Julie’s lap at the impact of 
the black spaniel. He sat back on his haunches 
grinning like a dervish as he contemplated the 
bunch of bristling yellow fur with lashing tail 
which bared spiked teeth at him from the top of a 
chair back. Julie caught the reprobate in her arms 
and shook him. 

Sweetie-peach, you’re a nuisance. I’ll hold him 
while you put her out,” she suggested as Trafford 
entered. He seized the spitting cat. When he re¬ 
turned from dropping the clawing, tawny bunch 
outside the front door she released the dog. The 
spaniel with a deep sigh of relief as of a difficult 
undertaking satisfactorily accomplished flopped to 
the hearth-rug and closed his eyes. Julie crossed 
her arms on the back of the wing-chair and smiled 
at the man who was standing under the portrait. 

I have been burning up gray matter trying to 
think of something casual and informal to say upon 
your return, quite as though 1 had been living here 
for the last thousand years, when in dashes Sweetie- 
140 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


peach and solves the problem for me. You and I 
must have been born under Sirius, the dog-star. 
Tell me everything! What did they say when you 
told them? she demanded eagerly. In the fire¬ 
light her eyes were a deep hyacinth; the red glow 
from the coals threw a rose light on her rounded 
throat and bare arms. As I descended the grand 
staircase at Shorehaven and looked down upon 
Aunt Martha and her guests looking up at me my 
mind blew out like a tire. ' I couldn't think. I 
hope that I said the right thing? ” 

Trafford's eyes smiled encouragement. 

'' You did. I was too intent upon getting my 
story across to get the full effect of their reactions. 
Your aunt is jubilant-" 

What? 

Your aunt is jubilant," he repeated as though 
the girl had not heard him. She confessed to me 
that she had used Carfax as a blind. Knowing your 
combative nature—don't flare, that is her term, 
not mine—she made you think that the stars de¬ 
clared him your afdnity when in reality I am." 

Julie flushed furiously as she met his laughing 
eyes. She opened her lips impetuously to start 
a sentence which she abandoned and tried an¬ 
other. 

I—I—just can't talk about it. It—^it must be 
because she admires your nose. It—is—rather 
141 



HERE COMEE TEE SUN ! 


nice,” slie teased, lier head critically tilted. What 
did Billy say? ” 

IS^othing.” 

He didn^t speak to me when I left. Perhaps it 
was just as well. I don’t like to be cross-examined 
by him unless I am prepared to tell the truth, the 
whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me 

God! What did Pamela-” she hesitated as 

Trafford turned abruptly to the fire and poked it. 
She nodded her golden head understandingly at his 
back and went on, I won’t ask any more ques¬ 
tions. WTiere ignorance is bliss, etc., etc. That 
episode is behind us. Don’t you like the firelight? ” 
she asked in surprise as Trafford pulled the chain 
of a fioor lamp and flooded the room wuth light. 

So much that I am afraid of it. Sit down while 
I talk to you. When you stand I feel as though 
you were preparing to depart.” 

Julie’s eyes laughed as she sank into the capa¬ 
cious chair. 

ISTo such luck for you. I am to be a fixture her^ 
until after election.” 

Do you mind? ” 

Not if my being here will help. Having started 
to assist the best man to win the senatorship I shall 
carry on. It certainly complicates matters for you 
with Pamela, and I am sorry. I had a creepy pre¬ 
monition this morning that something would hap- 
142 



BEUE COME^ THE SUN ! 


pen and when you held out your hand to me in the 
garden I knew what was coming. It took an hun¬ 
dred pounds’ weight from my conscience when I 
realized that your mother knew. Why did you tell 
her? ” 

Because she is my best friend and my wisest.” 

Did she say that you had ruined your life? ” 

On the contrary her apprehension was for you. 
She was quite sure that you would find Carfax 
irresistible after you had been at Shorehaven a few 
days.” 

He is, in a way. There is something tremen¬ 
dously lovable about Dal.” 

Trafford thrust his hands into the pockets of his 
dinner jacket and met her eyes steadily as he cau¬ 
tioned : 

Watch out for shell-holes, Goldilocks. Carfax 
is in love with you. I knew it when I saw him 
bending oyer your hand in the garden.” 

Silly! I know that he is not. You have mis¬ 
taken his technique for the real thing. Any girl, 
even if she does not know what love-making is, 
knows when a man is in love with her,” Julie re¬ 
futed paradoxically. 

^^Does she? Then you must know that I love 
you.” 

The words were so quietly, so smilingly spoken 
that the girl doubted her ears. Through the silence 
143 


HERE GOMES THE SUN / 


in the room the old clock seemed to tick a monoto¬ 
nous repetition, ^^Love you! Love you!’^ Julie 
sprang to her feet and barricaded herself with the 
wing-chair before she protested incredulously: 

No, oh no, no! ’’ 

Trafford’s face was white but the girl took cour¬ 
age from the spark of a smile in the gray eyes which 
met and held hers as he countered: 

Yes, oh yes, yes. Don^t look so stricken, Julie. 
I want you to know the truth, that is all. Til not 
take the chance of a stupid misunderstanding be¬ 
tween us. I sat near you on the train the day you 
rushed to the rescue of the spaniel. You attracted 
me more than any girl I had ever seen. By the 
time we had finished supper I was in love with 
you. I have loved you more and more each day 
since.’’ 

“ But you didn’t want to marry me. I—I almost 
forced you into seeing the thing through.” 

Of course I didn’t want to marry you—^that 
way.” 

Then why—^why did you do it? ” 

Because loving you as I did it seemed the best 
way out of a treacherous situation. I took the 
chance that some day you would love me.” 

^^You took some chance. I sha’n’t love you— 
ever,” the girl denied furiously. The color flooded 
to her hair. Eyes and voice were frankly horrified 
144 


HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! * 

as she demanded: You don’t think for an instant 
that that empty ceremony will give you the right 
to kiss me, do you? ” 

Traiford’s eyes shone with laughter; the smile 
which widened his generous mouth showed his 
white, even teeth, but there was a husky strain in 
the voice in which he answered: 

“ No, not at present.” 

Not ever. You know that I hate sentiment.” 

Then I am playing in luck. Goldilocks. I may 
be sure that you won’t care for anyone else. Now 
I want to talk with you about my campaign. 
Pamela to-night declared her intention of election¬ 
eering for Cheever-” 

Not really! ” 

^^Yes. Perhaps you remember that I told you 
that he wanted to marry her and that Mother and 
I opposed his suit. Pam has been tractable but 
now—of course she can marry him, and have her 
property tied up until she is thirty, but she won’t 
do it unless she is certain that he will go on po¬ 
litically.” 

Why don’t you tell her what you know about 
him?” 

“ What I suspect, you mean. By the way, Julie, 
you and Captain Phin are the only persons who 
know that, so please keep my secret. Election 
comes the second Monday in September. If I win 
145 



HERE COME^ TEE SUN I 

I shall represent two important mill towns. Can^t 
you help me strengthen my campaign in the next 
two weeks? ” 

His voice was businesslike, matter-of-fact. Julie 
wondered dazedly if his protest of love had been 
but an imagination-storm induced in her mind by 
an overdose of excitement. Her voice was buoyant 
with relief as she answered eagerly: 

I will do anything I can, Jim. Your 

bride-She crimsoned to the ears. Her tone 

was frankly, boyishly horrified as she apologized: 

'' I'm sorry! I forgot. Oh, say that it isn't true. 
I can't believe it. I—I won’t/^ 

Stick your head in the sand, Julie, if you please, 
but you can't alter the fact that I love you." 

In spite of the cool friendliness of his tone the 
girl felt again that curious sense of being drawn 
irresistibly into smothering depths. The contrition 
in her eyes flashed to defiance. 

‘^Why, why did you have to spoil the fun we 
might have had together with your old love-mak¬ 
ing? " 

There was a slight unsteadiness about the long 
firm fingers which drew the pipe from Trafford's 
pocket and slipped it back again. 

“ Love-making! You don't call what I have said 
love-making, do you? You are an unsophisticated 
young person. I could give you a demonstra- 
146 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


tion-’’ the laughter in his voice quieted the 

pounding of the girhs heart. After all, she as¬ 
sured herself, he was the most wonderful friend she 
ever had had, with the exception of Billy. She 
could trust him. She matched his light tone as she 
replied from the doorway: 

Your demonstration would be thrown away on 
me. Keserve it for your friend Pamela. She would 
appreciate it; there is nothing unsophisticated 
about her. Good-night! 

^^What possessed you to drag in the Parkman 
girl? ” Julie demanded of her reflection as she sank 
to the chair before the old-fashioned mirror in her 
bedroom, propped her chin in her two hands and 
frowned at the troubled violet eyes frowning back 
at her. ^^As ex-president of the Ladies’ Aid you 
should have met the situation with more dignity. 
But when he told me that—^that—^he roused my 
horrid old demon of opposition. I realized that I 
was in the clutch of a steel-hand-in-the-velvet glove 
sort of person. Oh, if I just hadn’t dashed after 
Sweetie-peach.’’ 

Urged by her turbulent thoughts she walked 
about the rooms in which Mrs. Trafford had in¬ 
stalled her. The furniture was rosewood. The 
four-poster bed would have wrung agonized tears 
of envy from the eyes of a collector. The passage 
between bedroom and boudoir was paneled with 
147 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


wardrobes. The mahogany and brass in the sitting- 
room was rare and beautiful. A secretary with in¬ 
numerable pigeonholes invited correspondence; the 
bookcase was filled with rare editions. The one 
modern note in the room was the violet negligee 
which Carlotta, with a nice sense of artistic values, 
had thrown across an end of the wide couch. A 
smile lightened the shadows in the girPs eyes 
as she caught it up and pressed her cheek against 
it. 

^^How I adore frillies! You lovely-” the 

word trailed into a whisper. She stood motionless. 
Could that be Jim Trafford’s footstep on the 
stairs? Her breath stopped as there came a soft 
knock. 

Julie, I want to speak to you.” 

With the negligee crumpled under one arm she 
flung open the door. Trafford’s eyes as they met 
hers were the clear, direct eyes of the man who had 
teased her in the cabin. His voice had a smile in it 
as he commanded: 

“ Hold out your left hand. We came near wreck¬ 
ing our emergency measure by forgetting this.” 
He slipped the narrow wedding ring she had so 
hastily discarded on her finger. ‘^Good-night!” 
Without even a pressure of her hand he turned 
away. Julie listened at the partially opened door 
as he ran down the stairs singing softly: 

148 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


‘You remind me of my mother, 

My mother was a lot like you, 

So many little things you do 
I find-’ 

The girl closed the door and shut out the song. 
She seated herself before the mirror. Elbow on 
the dressing-table she moved her left hand back and 
forth and watched the flash of the diamonds in the 
narrow circlet. The eyes of her vis-h-vis widened 
in a laugh as she conflded: 

My flrst ring. Captain Phin was right. ^ Ye 
never can tell at sunup what youfll bump into be¬ 
fore sundown.’ ” 


149 


CHAPTEE XI 


Julie stood in the shaft of sunlight which 
streamed in at the window recessed in the deep 
walls of the old kitchen at Brick House. She pic¬ 
tured the broad beams above her hung with corn 
and dried meats, the huge fireplace piled with once- 
split logs, the spit at the back of the wrought-iron 
fire-dogs sizzling and dripping with cooking meats. 
Beside the fireplace a Emnford oven with its brass- 
handled door was set deep into the brick wall. On 
the other side of the hearth were copper boilers 
each with its own fire-box beneath. In a cupboard 
generations of brass and copper kettles glowed 
richly. 

What a wonderful kitchen! Do you ever use 
it? ” the girl asked Sarah Beddle who was doing 
the honors of the old room. Marcella, the yellow 
coon-cat, brushed against the woman’s skirts; a 
gray kitten caught playfully at her ground-gripper 
heels. 

The housekeeper was in character with her back¬ 
ground, Julie thought, just what she had imagined 
a Xew England spinster of the black-walnut age 
would be. She was tall and angular. The zebra 
effect of her gray streaked dark hair was comple- 
150 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


mented by ber print gown of black and white stripe. 
Her third-degree eyes were in keeping with her thin 
lips. She had a tinge of that I-am-as-good-as-you 
manner which some flaunt as a badge of American 
citizenship. She punctuated her sentences with a 
sniff as she answered the girl’s question. 

Use it? Certain, certain. We use it at Thanks¬ 
giving and Christmas. It makes the work hard but 
we Traffords ain’t ones to let old customs die out 
because they mean work. Some day I’ll show you 
the china. There’s never been a piece broken nor a 
nick put in in my time.” Her sniff was redolent 
of suggestion as to what dire devastation had been 
wrought before. 

I should love to see it. I am off to the old mill 
now. I like to read my letters there.” Julie 
slipped the note in her hand into the pocket of her 
white frock which already contained an envelope. 
It held her mother’s answer to the announcement 
of her marriage. She was eager yet dreaded to 
open it. 

You’ve been in this house just a week and it 
seems to me you’ve spent most of your time on the 
brook or Glass Pond,” Sarah Peddle commented 
disapprovingly. Julie slipped a friendly hand 
within the triangle formed by the woman’s angular 
elbow as she agreed: 

''I have, but I’ll tell you a secret. Mr. Jaffrey 
151 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


has been teaching me to shoot the rapids. The 
boat went through like an eel yesterday and the 
day before with me at the wheel. I was to try it 
again to-day but the note that came was from him. 
He had to correct proofs and couldiiT come.’’ 

Sarah jerked her arm free and regarded the girl 
with stern displeasure. 

Does Mr. Jim know you’re doing that?—^Yoii 
shouldn’t be doing nothing so reckless. You’re a 
Traiford now and responsible for the next genera¬ 
tion. You ain’t got the right to take chances of 
leaving him a widderer.” 

Indignant color flew to the girl’s temples. Anne 
Traflord had warned her that Sarah would take an 
undue interest in her activities. Martha Marshall 
would have sighed in sympathy with the house¬ 
keeper had she heard the tone in which Julie an¬ 
swered : 

I shall take any chance I like. In fact, I think 
I will shoot the rapids again to-day without Mr. 
Jaffrey. The tide will be right at twelve-thirty. 
If I am late for luncheon don’t wait for me.” 

She ran into the garden with the housekeeper’s 
voice shrilling after her: 

‘‘.You know The Trafford has to have his lunch 
prompt! Don’t shoot them-” 

Space deleted the woman’s warning, laughter di¬ 
luted the anger in Julie’s eyes and cooled the flush 
152 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 

in her cheeks. She had not the slightest intention 
of shooting the rapids alone; she had threatened 
it as a defiance to Sarah, she thought, as she sped 
down the garden walk. The color along the en¬ 
closing brick wall had changed, she noticed. The 
pinks and blues of the week before were being sup¬ 
planted rapidly by the crimson and gold of autumn 
flowers. Scarlet gladioli, red cockscomb, clumps of 
nasturtiums running the gamut of shades from 
claret to lemon, nuggets of golden-glow, the orange 
heads of calendulas, the yellow and bronze blossoms 
of marigolds nodded and swayed. The fragrant 
breeze which came straight from a thousand pines 
was snappy with a premonition of September. On 
the top of the wall the peacock had his jeweled tail 
spread to its gorgeous limit. He semaphored 
raucously as the girl passed between the open 
wooden doors, the iron trimmings of which had 
been wrought by some long-ago blacksmith on the 
Trafford estate. 

Outside the wall Julie stopped and whistled. As 
the black spaniel raced from the direction of the 
garage she entered a wide path. Checkered with 
green sunlight, patterned with fantastic dancing 
shadows it led through the woods to Glass Pond. 
It was the bridle path along which the Trafford 
who had built Brick House had ridden to the mill; 
it was the path along which the present owner rode. 

153 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

Would it be used for generations to come, tbe girl 
wondered. 

The word generations swept fancy from her mind 
and presented fact. Sarah Beddle had suggested 
family responsibilities. How little she suspected 
the truth of the emergency marriage. Julie visual¬ 
ized the housekeeper’s expression of frozen incre¬ 
dulity when she knew. It would not be many days 
before Jim Trafford would be free to scramble out 
of the bramble-bush into which that miserable Chee- 
ver had flung him. That cabin experience ought to 
remain an enduring warning for Julie Lorraine to 
look before she leaped. It ought. Would it? 

“You can’t change a leopard’s spots. I never 
think of consequences when I see a thing to be done, 
Sweetie-peach,” she confided to the spaniel who had 
run back with a stick in his mouth. “ But I am not 
regretting, at least not the cabin part,” she assured 
him as she flung the stick. She waited till he 
proudly capered back with his trophy before she 
added, “But had I known what I was to bump 
into before sundown, I shouldn’t have jumped from 
the train to page you, no I shouldn’t,” she repeated 
to the dog who had laid his stick at her feet and 
was imploring an encore with snapping black eyes. 

The path swerved when it came to a gate but 
Julie climbed the bars under the lowest of which 
the spaniel squeezed his plump self. She swung 
154 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 

down into a fern-strewn, rock-blotched pasture. 
The sheep who were grazing daintily on its slope 
gave it a near Corot effect. They raised their heads 
at sound of her whistle, gazed at her curiously for 
a second before they kicked up their heels and 
scampered. One dingy drab animal stood its 
ground like a graven image. As the dog barked at 
it shrilly it moved toward the girl with a purpose¬ 
ful glint in its granite eyes. Juliets whistle trickled 
into silence. Her heart did a series of cartwheels 
as she smashed her own speed record toward the 
bars at the upper end of the field. She tumbled 
over them to safety. 

The spaniel raced up to inquire in his best canine 
manner why his mistress was sitting on the ground 
leaning against silly bars when a woodsy trail, 
teeming with thrilling possibilities, stretched in¬ 
vitingly before her. She answered his eyes and his 
agitated tail. 

“That sheep had a wicked eye. Sweetie-peach. 
Shall I ever be a well-balanced sport, I wonder? 
Tve been shooting the rapids with Billy without a 
qualm yet cows and sheep on the loose give me the 
merry-pranlis. You saw what a spectacle I made 
of myself. Yes, Tin coming!” She responded to 
the dog’s tug at her skirt, sprang to her feet and 
resumed her whistle. 

Impatient as she was to know the contents of 
155 




HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

her mother’s letter Julie waited until she reached 
the old mill before she drew it from her pocket. 
Even then she did not open it. Seated on the moss- 
covered ground under u tall pine, elbow on her 
knee, chin in hand, she gazed dreamily at the pond. 
It looked placid but when the tide turned in the 
bay outside there was a swift undercurrent. Some¬ 
thing like her life at present, the girl thought. The 
low stone building near her was at the mouth of a 
stream which emptied into Glass Pond. It was 
connected with the opposite shore by a stout bridge. 
The great water-wheel which had revolved tire¬ 
lessly in other days stood majestically silent. The 
wisps of gray moss which hung from it suggested 
haunting wraiths of bygone years. Dark shadows 
darted through the deep pool under it. Moored to 
a float on the shore was the slim launch, Easy 
Money^ in which she and Billy had shot the rap¬ 
ids. 

The smile which the remembrance of the exhila¬ 
rating experience brought to Julie’s lips dimmed 
as she thought of Sarah Beddle’s horrified, Does 
Mr. Jim know you’re doing it? ” He did not. She 
could not have explained to herself why she had 
carefully refrained from mentioning her latest ac¬ 
complishment to him. Even now she edged away 
from the thought. But why should she feel guilty? 
Carfax had taken Pamela Parkman over the falls. 

156 


HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! 


She would not have gone had she apprehended dan¬ 
ger. Her sporting spirit was confined to her lan¬ 
guage and her habits. Billy had announced that 
his pupil was entitled to a diploma. It was a sim¬ 
ple enough stunt. It was a matter of tide and a 
firm grip on the wheel. In spite of Julie’s reason¬ 
ing the irritation of mind occasioned by Sarah Bed- 
dle’s objection persisted. 

The housekeeper might be an angel as Mrs. Traf- 
ford asserted but she was a domineering angel. 
She ran the house with the beautiful precision of 
clockwork. The Trafford might fling sand into the 
machinery by being late to meals, by leaving a trail 
of burnt matches and pipe ashes, by bringing sales¬ 
men home to lunch unexpectedly and the fond 
Sarah smiled upon him adoringly, but let anyone 
else transgress and her temperature dropped out of 
sight. 

Julie’s lips widened in an irrepressible smile as 
she thought of the woman. In spite of her thorns 
and prickles she loved her. She loved everything 
about her life at Brick House, even to the mill- 
whistle which seemed to regulate her day. Once 
unobserved she had watched the hands pour from 
the mill to take their noon meal out of doors. They 
looked to be a clean-hearted, self-respecting lot of 
men and women. She didn’t wonder that Jim Traf- 
ford had gone white when he thought of their belief 
157 


HEBE COMES THE SUN I 


in him being shattered. And it might have been 
had she not consented to that marriage- 

She gazed unwinldngly at the shore which lay 
warm and softly shining under the noonday sun and 
thought of her first evening at Brick House. For 
a few days after it she had lost her breath for an 
instant whenever she faced Trafford at table or 
accompanied him to Shorehaven in the roadster. 
That reference of his mother’s to the cave-man 
propensities of his ancestors had assumed heroic 
proportions in her imagination. She had held her¬ 
self rigidly aloof but as day followed day and he 
continued to be the same sympathetically under¬ 
standing companion he had been the first time she 
met him, her apprehensions had dwindled to tb^ 
ansemic substance of a hazy dream. She was abnost 
as happy and friendly with him now as she was with 
Billy; were it not for the lurking shadow of that 
emergency marriage, she could dispense with that 
qualifying almost.” 

Julie shook off her abstraction and opened her 
letter. A robin who had been bathing near shore 
with one bead-like eye fixed on the motionless figure 
against the tree-trunk abruptly cut short his morn¬ 
ing ablution as the white sheets fiuttered in her 
hand. He shook his wet plumage and flew to the 
top of a mammoth pine where he preened in the 
sunshine. The black spaniel who had been dozing, 
158 



HERE COMES TEE SUN / 


nose comfortably snuggled between silky paws, 
raised bis bead suddenly, sniffed experimentally 
and with a stealthy look at tbe absorbed girl beside 
bim sneaked off on a private hunting expedition. 

Julie was unconscious of bis departure as she 
read tbe opening lines of her mother’s letter. * 

My darling Girl : 

Why not devise a cabalistic sign to be used 
on the envelope of a letter, a sign which will denote 
explosives! I should then be prepared when I 
opened it to have my composure blown to smith¬ 
ereens. (Perhaps you know what a smithereen is. 
I don’t, but you will agree with me that it suggests 
infinitesimal fragments.) If the suggestion sounds 
flippant, forgive it, Julie dear; it serves merely as 
a sort of inky cocktail to warm and stimulate my 
pen to express in some slight degree all that your 
father and I feel about your marriage. Our first 
impulse was to board the next train to you, then 
we thought it over and said, Julie will be 

better off without us.’ 

‘^1 waited for your father before I opened the 
letter. When I began to read it did not occur to 
either of us to wonder that you had gone back to a 
description of your journey to Clearwater. We 
laughed at your pursuit of the runaway spaniel 
and your Dad chuckled, ‘ Wasn’t that like J ulie? ’ 
I could feel him stiffen as I read on to where you 
defied the man Cheever with the announcement that 
you were married. ^ Dear God! ’ he groaned. ‘ Oh, 
dear God! My littlest girl! ’ 

159 


HEBE GOMES THE SUE ! 

I kept on as steadily as I could. Wlietlier you 
had withheld it for dramatic effect, or whether it 
just happened, up to that you had not mentioned 
the name of the man who had adventured with you. 
Then it came. Your father dropped into the arms 
of his Morris with an abandon which shocked a 
groan of repletion from the rugged chair. 

<< For you see, dear, your father and I know of 
The Trafford and your aunt’s hopes and plans. 
She has talked James Trafford, written James Traf¬ 
ford since he settled in Clearwater and took on the 
responsibilities of the mill. We have wondered how 
she could know so much of his ideas and his ideals. 
Probably she gleaned them from his mother for 
whom she seems to have a profound admiration. 
Martha was obsessed to bring you and Jim Traf¬ 
ford together. Discounting her nonsense about 
planets and horoscopes your father and I began to 
covet him for a son. Your sisters’ husbands are 
hard-working, well-intentioned, successful men, but 
their conversation is as inelastic as a map. It is 
bounded on the north by business, on the south by 
stocks and bonds, on the east by golf and on the 
west by musical comedy and the bootleggers’ price 
list. You are our youngest, the light of our eyes, 
dear, and for you we coveted a broader outlook. 
For you we wanted a man who was a champion 
for, but not a slave to, the great god Business; one 
who loved and believed in his country to the extent 
of sacrificing his own comfort to uphold its laws; a 
man who would inspire you to your best, who would 
keep alive in your heart and soul the appreciation 
of life’s spiritual values. 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


‘‘Has Martha told you that it was not coinci¬ 
dence that you and James Trafford were on the 
same train? She knew the date on which he was to 
return from a conference in Boston and planned 
that you should go to her the same day.^’ 

Julie’s eyes blazed as she looked up from the 
letter. How maddening that events should have 
played into her aunt’s hands. She would be more 
cocksure than ever that she was a divinely ap¬ 
pointed deputy. She wouldn’t be so cocksure the 
day after election, the girl gloated as she returned 
to the letter. 

“Martha wrote that she knew the reason you 
gave for your delayed arrival was a smoke-screen, 
but that she had sufdcient faith in you and James 
Tralford, plus the planets, to ask no questions. So 
you see, her apparent belief in your story was but 
pretense. In your letter I felt a tinge of contempt 
for her credulity. Don’t discount your aunt’s in¬ 
telligence, dear. She may seem a bit mad on the 
subject of astrology but in other ways she is to be 
regarded with admiration slightly tinged with awe. 

“ Your father and I will faithfully keep the secret 
of that cabin adventure. To each of your sisters 
I have written the news of your marriage. For¬ 
tunately for the meagreness of my explanation 
those quarantinable first-cousins, measles and 
chickenpox are rampant among your nephews and 
nieces. The girls have their hands too full to give 
much thought to you. I have asked your brothers- 
161 


HERE COMES TEE SUN ! 


in-law as a favor to me, to bombard you with 
neither questions nor presents.’’ 

Presents! Ye gods! I hadn’t thought of that! 
Whatever would I do if anyone gave us anything? ” 
Julie distractedly demanded of a squirrel who was 
regarding her curiously from under a scrub-oak. 
As the chipmunk chattered an unintelligible answer 
she returned to her letter. 

Why not put all thought of the annulment of 
your marriage out of your mind till after election, 
dearest? Live each day as it comes and trust to 
God and The Trafford to bring you safely out of 
the maze. You wrote that Jim was the dragon- 
slayer of your favorite fairy-tale come to life. 
Trust him to slay your dragons. 

“ Dear, if I have seemed to answer your letter 
lightly it is only because I feared to say too much. 
My heart goes out to you. My first waking thought 
in the morning, my last at night is this prayer: 

^ Dear God, keep my little girl fine and true 
and happy. Help her to stand for the best that she 
may steady weaker souls than hers. Let her count 
in the life of the nation.’ It is the petition your 
father and I would offer had we been blessed with 
a son, that he might count in the life of the country 
his ancestors toiled and died to save. Help the last 
of the Traffords to make good, Julie. 

“ Devotedly, 

Mother.” 


162 


HERE GOMEB THE SUN ! 


Julie struggled with a lump in her throat and 
blinked furiously to clear her eyes of tears before 
she read the few words her father had added. 

Your mother has said it all better than I could, 
Julie. God bless and keep you, my littlest girl. 
May He help you remember that, swept into this 
marriage on a wave of impulse as you were, you 
must meet its obligations with a steady sea of de¬ 
termination. Stand stanchly back of Trafford in 
his tight for clean politics, work with him, for him. 
Don't be too severe in your condemnation of 
Cheever. Eemember, that there must be at least a 
spark of the divine in everyone. If I could hold 
you in my arms a minute, dear—^but I can’t, so I’ll 
start on my parish calls and try to bring heart¬ 
healing to some other father’s daughter. 

Dad.” 


With a sob Julie pressed her lips to the letter. 
What dears they were. How they understood. She 
had known that they would. How characteristic of 
her father to make that plea for Cheever, but 
What was that? It sounded like a cautious step 
on the dried pine-needles. It was a step! She 
crushed the letter into her pocket, sprang to her 
feet and turned. Against a tree her hands thrust 
into the pockets of her poppy-red sweater leaned 
Pamela Parkman. Julie’s welcoming smile faded 
as the girl remarked with studied insolence: 

163 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


Married only a montli and kissing a letter, Mrs. 
Trafford? Of course it is from a man. Hadn^t lie 
as muck money as Jim? 


164 


CHAPTER XII 


The imputation effectually dried the tears which 
the letter had brought to Juliets lashes. She care¬ 
fully brushed a pine-needle from the shoulder of 
her white frock before she met the hostile eyes 
pillorizing her and inquired in a faintly surprised 
voice: 

Were you speaking to me, Pamela? ” 

I was and that isn^t all I have to say. It is 
only fair to warn you that I intend to find out what 
black art you employed when you persuaded Jim 
Trafford to marry you.” 

The words loosed a yelping pack of memories in 
Julie’s mind. Cheever’s contemptuous comment, 
which had faded somewhat in the last two weeks, 
flashed back with cinema-like clearness: 

The girl has turned a clever trick, Jim. There 
are advantages in being the richest man in the 
county.” Had he insinuated that she had tricked 
Jim Trafford into marrying her? Was that what 
Pamela meant? Even her lips were white as she 
defied coolly: 

“ Why not ask him what magic I used? ” 

^^I will. You can’t deceive me with your lie 
about having met during the war. Why did you 
wait before you announced your marriage? There 
165 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


is something hack of it, some absurd quixotism of 
Jim Trafford's. I mean to find out what it is at 
the same time that I help elect Ben Cheever.” 

“ Will it help him for you to be disloyal to your 
guardian and her son? ” 

That maddening guardianship is one more rea¬ 
son why I should like to hurt them both. I was 
eighteen, quite old enough to manage my own busi¬ 
ness, when my father, who admired Anne Trafiord 
and her archaic ideas and ideals, died and left her 
the right to mix into my affairs. I don^t belong to 
her era. IVe waded out of the sluggish pool of 
restraint for good. I love Jim Trafford. If I can^t 
have him I-’’ 

Julie interrupted the passionate fury of the 
words imploringly: 

Oh, please—^please— don’t! ” 

My advanced views would undoubtedly make a 
minister’s daughter pretend to squirm, but after the 
way you noosed Jim Trafford you can’t put that 
stuff across on me. You have always been poor, 
haven’t you? No wonder you jumped at the first 
rich man who came your way. Have you thought 
how much more a wife with money could help him? 
I hope that you are not counting on your aunt’s? 
Perhaps you don’t know that her fortune goes back 
to her husband’s people when she gets through with 
it? ” 


166 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


Tlie quality of lier tone as slie went on showed 
her appreciation of the color which stole to Juliets 
hair: 

I know that Jim’s absurd New England con¬ 
science plunged him into this mess. He belonged 
to me by right. I wouldn’t marry a man who was 
practically engaged to another girl.” 

Have you been asked to? ” then as her question 
reduced Pamela to dumb fury, Julie added crisply: 

“As a minister’s daughter I have been brought 
up to consider a brawling woman about the lowest 
form of animal life, Pamela. At the present mo¬ 
ment you come dangerously near being indexed in 
that class.” Her eyes traveled from the poppy- 
red hat to the immaculate white shoes and back 
to the smoldering dark eyes before she added: 

“I suggest that you investigate the record of 
your candidate before you devote much time to his 
campaign.” 

Pamela laughed. 

“ Piffle! Do you think that if Jim Trafford knew 
anything against Cheever he wouldn’t use it? No 
one can make me believe him as quixotic as that 
even if he did marry-” her eyes wandering de¬ 

risively over Julie to give point to the interrupted 
sentence rested on the corner of the envelope in her 
pocket. Her Mds narrowed triumphantly. 

“ I wonder—I wonder if Jim had seen you kiss- 
167 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


ing a man’s letter if he wouldn’t feel justified in de¬ 
manding his freedom? I wonder-” 

^^Why waste precious time wondering? Why 
not ask him? ” defied Julie flippantly. 

I will. I’ll meet him as he comes from the mill. 
Thanks awfully for the suggestion.” 

With a triumphant laugh she turned away. 
With hands outstretched as though to clutch her 
Julie took a step forward. Then her arms dropped 
to her sides. It would be the height of folly to 
permit Pamela to think that she feared her insinu¬ 
ations. She watched the flashes of color as the red 
hat and sweater appeared and disappeared among 
the trees. 

When it gleamed and vanished for the last time 
Julie looked up at the sky. What had happened 
to dim the glory of the day? Had the sun clouded? 
No, it still shone brazenly. The fault wasn’t in 
the atmosphere, it was in herself. She felt as 
though leaden weights had been attached to her 
spirit. Of course it couldn’t be the effect of what 
Pamela had implied about Jim and herself; hadn’t 
Billy and Martha Marshall both suggested that 
there was an understanding between the mill-mag¬ 
nate and his mother’s ward? And hadn’t Jim Traf- 
ford that night in the cabin admitted that he was in 
love? Like a wet sponge across a slate swept the 
memory of her first evening at Brick House. It 
168 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


magically erased tlie man^s first confession and left 
only Ms steady, I love you,” staring at lier like 
the caption on a screen. 

Shall I never forget that? ” Julie demanded of 
herself furiously. Would she never be free from 
that sense of intolerable burden? 

I know how poor old Hercules felt when Atlas 
dropped the Earth on to his shoulders. And it is 
all your fault, Sweetie-peach,” she admonished the 
spaniel as he raced up to her with his erstwhile 
silky coat bristling with twigs and his nose brown 
with moist earth. Julie dropped to her knees and 
held him by his fioppy ears while she vigorously 
removed the dirt with her handkerchief. The at¬ 
tack relieved her overcharged feelings to a degree. 
She released him and sprang to her feet as the 
whistle of the mill rent the hot air. 

Unless I intend to defy the divine Sarah and 
arrive late for luncheon, we had better start for 
home.” The spaniel barked peremptorily. What 
do you want now? ” 

The dog looked down at the stick at the girTs 
feet, poked it with his paw, shook his long ears 
over it, ran a few steps toward the water and looked 
back wagging his tail excitedly. He voiced an im¬ 
perative yelp. Julie laughed and picked up the 
partially chewed portion of a branch. 

You are a spoiled child if ever there was one, 
169 


EEEE C0ME8 THE SUN ! 


Sweetie-peacli. I’ll throw this once more, just once. 
Go get it! ” 

She flung the stick into the pond as she had flung 
it dozens of times before. The spaniel waded for a 
few steps and then swam for the floating wood 
which had drifted in the current. He caught it in 
his mouth, went on for a few seconds and turned. 
Before he could get back to quieter water he had 
been carried a few inches down-stream. 

Concern dashed the laughter from the girl’s face. 
She ran to the water’s edge and clapped her hands. 

‘‘ Come! Come! ” she called sharply. She 
could see the little black creature struggle to obey 
but the current was too much for him. It seemed 
to Julie that his dark eyes implored her across the 
water that separated them. A dry sob lodged im¬ 
movably in her throat as she ran to the float to 
which the launch was tied. She unfastened the 
painter, jumped in, and pushed off the boat. She 
hastily adjusted grease-cups, tank-cock and nee¬ 
dle-valve. She shifted the big oars which always 
seemed to her such useless cargo. She threw in the 
switch, rocked the wheel and started in pursuit. 

‘^Julie’s coming!” she called to the dog whose 
black head bobbed in the current. Her heart 
stopped as it disappeared for a moment. It rose 
again. The launch seemed to crawl. Far ahead 
she could see the low bridge and the white patches 
170 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


beneath it where the current boiled over rocks on 
its swift rush to the bay. If the dog went over those 
—but he wouldn’t—she would reach him before 
that—she was almost alongside him now. 

I’m coming! ” she called again. As though the 
girl’s voice had inspired him with fresh courage the 
spaniel made a desperate effort to head toward 
shore. 

“You’re making it! You’re making it!” Julie 
encouraged exultantly. “ Keep trying! I’m com¬ 
ing 1 ” 

She steered as near the struggling dog as she 
dared. As the boat bore down on him she leaned 
far over and caught him. For an instant she lost 
her balance, then pulled herself up with the drip¬ 
ping little creature in her arms. She hugged him 
convulsively before she dropped him to the bottom 
of the boat and caught the wheel. She heard his 
panting breath as she looked about to get her bear¬ 
ings. She was only a half mile above the falls. It 
would be a hard pull against the current to go back. 
Had she gas enough to make it? She dared not 
leave the wheel to investigate. She had much bet¬ 
ter keep on and go over the falls. The tide was 
right for the adventure and Billy had assured her 
that she was manoeuvre-perfect. 

She rehearsed mentally his instructions. 

“You can’t do anything well until you know- 
171 


HERE COMEE THE SUN ! 


why you do it, Marble-heart,^’ he had begun in his 
best pedagogic style the day he had introduced hex 
to the motor-launch. This pond is eight feet 
above the level of the bay. The average tide here is 
eleven feet. In consequence the rising tide starts 
filling the pond an hour before flood. The outflow 
starts an hour after flood and increases in volume 
as the fall from pond to bay becomes greater. Then 
boulders and ledges poke their heads through a 
rushing film of water. That is the psychical mo¬ 
ment to shoot the rapids. Just below the bridge 
a ledge lies squarely across the channel. The out¬ 
flow rushes over this to a lower level of granite 
covered by a foot or two of water. Below this, 
directly in mid-stream, is the Boiler, a granite boul¬ 
der that breaks water after the hour limit and parts 
the flood into two narrow rock-strewn channels. 
One is impassable, the other skirts the Trafford 
shore. Do you get it. Marble-heart? ” 

Julie’s mind had been a jumble of levels, tides, 
boulders and rapids, but she had tried to appear 
intelligent as she answered: 

Intermittently. I shall understand better when 
I have been through it. It sounds complicated.” 

It isn’t. It is as simple as navigating a frog- 
pond—^when you know how. You don’t take even 
a gambler’s chance if you keep your head.” 

Remember that it is as simple as navigating a 
172 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

frog-pond,” Julie reminded herself as she gripped 
the wheel. She knew that Billy had not intended 
her to attempt the stunt alone, but she had been 
practically forced into it. When it was over and 
she told him about it he would approve heartUy. 

“ Barring your aversion to the dark and the low¬ 
ing kine, you are one good little sport, Marble- 
heart.” 

She wouldn’t be too toppy about it but it would 
be fun to mention casually to Jim and the others; 

“ I shot the rapids quite by my lonesome to-day.” 

The thought of Trafford brought back the smart 
and sting of the unpleasant encounter with Pamela 
by the old mill. Had she broken Jim’s slate and 
Pam’s by her impulsiveness? She forced the 
thought from her mind. The adventure upon which 
she had embarked required her undivided attention. 
She appraised the glistening wet rim on the shore. 
The time to make the drop from pond to bay on the 
ebb-tide was right to the minute. 

Splendidly unafraid Julie whistled softly as she 
kept her eyes straight ahead. A languid breeze 
stirred the soft hail’ at her temples. The late Au¬ 
gust sun blazed down on her uncovered head. Its 
heat grilled woodsy fragrance from the timber 
along the shore. Its light gilded the tide-pools in 
the marshes till the floating grass took on the sem¬ 
blance of writhing golden eels. Bocks poked sinis- 
173 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


ter heads above water as though to breathe after 
their noon immersion. A sand-bar was alive with 
peep who looked as though their tiny bodies were 
mounted on tinier stilts. The sky was mottled with 
clouds. On the banks sumach waved like rivuleting 
fire. Pines nodded their stately tips in condescend¬ 
ing encouragement. A cicada shrilled in the 
bushes. A gull screamed at the slim launch below 
him. The spaniel slept peacefully. 

As Easy Money neared the falls a roadster swept 
to the bridge above and stopped. Juliets eyes 
flashed up for an instant. Had the driver slowed 
down to watch her? If he had he had a grandstand 
seat. He would get the full effect of her spectacu¬ 
lar drop, she thought with a thrill of nervous ex¬ 
citement. 

She forced her mind back to her wheel. She must 
watch her step, not think of an audience. She stole 
a look at the engine. Every cylinder hitting! She 
was through the first whirlpool! There were eight 
more before she reached the bridge. Billy had 
counted them. Her triumphant eyes challenged the 
rapids to do their worst. 

With a loud snap her bubble of satisfaction burst. 
What had happened? She did not dare take her 
eyes from the boiling water ahead to look at the 
engine. She listened. Nothing wrong there. It 
was running perfectly, it was not missing a beat. 

174 


HERE COME^ TEE SUN ! 


Slie flung tlie wheel over. The boat did not re¬ 
spond. The rudder-rope had broken! 

The launch spun like the propeller of an air¬ 
plane. It banged against a rock and catapulted 
into the next cauldron. For an instant Julie's 
heart stopped, then raced on pluckily. 

‘ You don’t take even a gambler’s chance if you 
keep your head,’ ” she reminded herself as she 
seized the frayed ends of the rudder-rope and at¬ 
tempted to tie them together. They were jerked 
violently from her hands. She caught up the boat¬ 
hook and ineffectually tried to keep the launch clear 
of the rocks. The tool might have been a wooden 
toothpick. It snapped at the first impact. 

The girl’s lips whitened as she watched the pieces 
swirl away in the current. The spaniel disturbed 
by the crash of the launch against a boulder sprang 
to the seat and began to bark. Julie dropped down 
beside him and caught him in one arm. With the 
other hand she clutched the gunwale. Her wide, 
strained eyes were on the foaming water ahead, but 
her voice was valiant as she encouraged: 

Don’t be frightened, Sweetie-peach! ‘ Shooting 
the rapids is as simple as navigating a frog-pond— 
when you know how.’ ” 


175 


CHAPTER XIII 


The creases between Jim Trafford’s eyes were 
deep as be rode borne from tbe mill. Tbe bridle 
bung loose on tbe borse’s neck. It was bis custom 
when at tbe office to wait until tbe whistle blew and 
go out for luncb when bis employees went. His 
grandfather and great-grandfather bad followed 
tbe same program. It gave an opportunity to ex¬ 
change friendly greetings with tbe workers. But 
to-day their descendant bad found it impossible to 
remain indoors after Ben Cbeever’s call. It was 
tbe first time bis political opponent bad visited tbe 
mill since bis accident and save for an ugly red 
scar on bis cheek tbe representative to the legisla¬ 
ture bad seemed as sound as before that epoch-mak¬ 
ing night in the cabin. 

He bad been friendly. He bad smoked and dis¬ 
cussed tbe division of a consignment of wool that 
they two bad ordered months before. He bad been 
too darned friendly, Trafford thought with a dark¬ 
ening of bis eyes as be stared ahead at tbe shady 
path filigreed with golden sunshine. His business 
statements and propositions bad been of tbe fair¬ 
est. He bad not mentioned tbe campaign. He had 
referred once with a sigh to tbe two weeks be bad 
lost out of bis life, tbe weeks that be could not 
176 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


remember. Couldn’t he? Had he forgotten or was 
he keeping up a superb bit of bluff? With his 
hand on the office door Cheever had turned back 
with a smiling apology: 

“ I sure acted like a goof the day I was presented 
to your wife, Jim. My only excuse is that I was 
still dazed from my accident. Before that time— 
I didn’t admit it because I wanted her myself—I 

could have sworn that you and Pamela- Don’t 

scowl. I won’t say any more except that I’m 
obliged to you for leaving the field clear for me.” 

The lines between Trafford’s eyes deepened. 
Cheever must know that until his appearance at the 
gate of Brick House there had been no announce¬ 
ment of the marriage. Pamela would inform him 
as to that fact. Was he playing possum? If he 
were it behooved him to get all the fun out of it 

he could now, for after election- Did Julie 

think that that insult to her would go unpunished? 
Trafford’s hand clenched on the reins. A savage 
thrill twisted into a muttered; 

“Good Lord, rU choke him to his knees. 

jjg_” Pury strangled the words in his throat. 

His face was white, the muscles of his jaw rigid 
as his thoughts doubled back to the interview in his 
office. Cheever had been almost convincingly sin¬ 
cere. Had he forgotten or was he making a virtue 
of necessity? He must realize that a word against 
177 



HERE GOMES THE SUN ! 


Julie would cost him his election. He must know 
that the girl with her beauty, her sweetness and 
tact, which she had doubtless acquired from the 
demands of her life at home, had the village at her 
feet. If there was speculation about the sudden 
marriage—and of course the town must seethe with 
it or it wouldn’t be a small town—^no hint of it had 
seeped through to him. He leaned forward to 
stroke the satin of his horse’s head. The remem¬ 
brance of Julie’s ultimatum at the cabin relaxed 
the tension of his jaws. 

“ While I am at Shorehaven I shall think only of 
myself.” 

Her initial venture on the all-for-self program 
had been her dash to succor the dog. Hext she had 
made that mad declaration to help a man whom 
she had known but a few hours. She had been at 
Brick House but a day before she had hunted up 
his mother’s old ladies to coddle them in true Anne 
Trafford fashion. She seemed blithely, unconcern¬ 
edly happy. She pretended to have forgotten his 
avowal on the night of her arrival at Brick House 
but her involuntary start when he spoke to her be¬ 
trayed her. Well, he could bide his time as long 
as he had her within arm’s reach. He touched his 
heels lightly to the satin flanks under them. As 
he turned into the drive at Brick House he 
hummed: 


178 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


“ ‘I find they bring to mind my mother, 

I never thought there’d be another 

Would have that sweet appeal 

Or could make me feel 

That the old fool world was real-’ ” 

He broke off his song and pulled in his horse as 
he saw Pamela Parkman in her roadster evidently 
waiting. Her red hat and sweater drew the light 
as the sun draws water. Her dark eyes were 
triumphant, mocking, as they met his. Her tilted 
head was a challenge. He dismounted and threw 
the bridle over the horse’s neck. The intelligent 
creature, after an inquiring look at his master, 
trotted off to the stable and his dinner. Trafford 
stuffed his soft hat into his pocket and held out his 
hand. 

Good-morning, Pam. Have you come to lunch, 
with U8? Julie will be delighted.’' 

Will she? Then she will have to hurry some to 
express her delight. I left her by the old mill kiss¬ 
ing and weeping over a letter.” 

Trafford overtook and strangled the exclamation 
on its way to his lips. His eyes and voice were 
warm with concern as he substituted i 

Weeping! Poor little girl, I wonder what has 
happened. I will ride back and meet her. I may 

be able to help.” 


179 


EEEE COMEB THE SUN ! 


Pamela abandoned ber air of smiling confidence. 
Her dark eyes contracted unbecomingly as she ad¬ 
vised: 

Better not butt in, Jim. It was a man’s letter.” 

Trafford’s face whitened but bis eyes smiled. 
“Was it? Then I won’t go back. I won’t be 
needed. Julie bas a score or more boy confidants 
wbo pour tbeir troubles into ber sympatbetic ears. 
If you are sure you won’t stop for luncheon I will 
go in. You know that I am a slave to the divine 
Sarah’s rules and regulations. We are dining at 
Sborebaven to-night so I’ll see you later.” 

“ I bad not said that I was not staying f6r lunch¬ 
eon but as it is evident you don’t want me, I’ll 
go.” 

For an instant the angry eyes of the girl met 
Trafford’s. Her roadster leaj)ed forward as she 
jammed in the gears. 

“You’ll wreck your machine if you do that 
again,” be cautioned unwisely but she drove on 
without answering. 

Trafford looked after her. He had been unpar- 
donably raw to dismiss Pam like that but she had 
infuriated him with her insinuations about Julie. 
Was she jealous? She had no right to be. Since 
she had been flung into the life at Brick House he 
had treated her with frank friendliness. Never 
had he been in the least attracted to her. In fact 
180 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

had it not been for complicating the already com¬ 
plicated situation for his mother, he would have 
avoided the girl. 

Had Pamela seen Julie Mss a letter or was she 
tiding to make trouble? For the last week she had 
been enthusiastically championing Cheever. He 
had been a frequent guest at Shorehaven. There 
was no apparent reason why he should not be. Few 
persons knew that Anne Trafford opposed his at¬ 
tentions to her ward; only she and Mrs. Marshall 
knew of the dastardly part he had played at the 
cabin. Managing Martha had been sworn to se¬ 
crecy so why shouldn’t she welcome so important 
a man as the state senator? Trafiford’s thoughts 
flashed to Julie. Had she Mssed—of course not— 
it was too unlike her. Had she not confided 
f ranMy; 

“ Men and boys bore me stiff when they wax 
sentimental.” 

His lips widened in a laugh as he visualized the 
girl as she had made the crisp statement. The re¬ 
membrance of her aversion to sentiment had helped 
steady him when he was with her. She was his. 
She must love him. She would love him if he didn’t 
lose his head and antagonize her, he warned himself 
for the hundredth time. As he entered the house 
he assured himself once more that he had not ^- 
lieved that infernal yarn of Pam’s, not for an in- 
181 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

stant. At his study door Sarah Beddle charged 
upon him. 

Jim, did you see Julie? 

The informality of her address proclaimed her 
I)erturhation. Since he had become head of the 
house she had prefaced the boyhood Jim.” 

'^No. Why?” 

The housekeeper’s hands gave an excellent imita¬ 
tion of a wringer in operation. 

Because I hoped you’d see her and stop her.” 

Stop her! Where has she gone? ” 

“Now don’t get excited. Perhaps she said it 
only to tease me. She had a letter from that writer- 
man Jaffrey this morning. I guess ’twa’n’t much 
of a letter. Just said that he couldn’t take her 
shooting the rapids.” 

“ Shooting the rapids! ” 

“Yes. That Mr. Jaffrey’s been teaching her. 
She said she’d go alone. I tried to stop her but 
she ran out laughing and called back over her 
shoulder: 

“ ^ The tide will be right at twelve-thirty! If I 
am late for luncheon don’t wait.’ ” Sarah snapped 
her lips together and stared. The last of the Traf- 
fords had bolted for the garage. 

Pamela had been right, Jim Trafford assured 
himself doggedly as he started the roadster and 
shot into the drive. She had seen Julie by the old 
182 


HEBE COMES THE SUN! 

mill, for the boat she -would use to shoot the rapids 
was moored there. It didn’t necessarily follow that 
the rest of Pam’s yam was true; the hectic hit about 
the letter might be an invention of her inflamed 
imagination. She was furiously angry because he 
and his mother opposed her friendship with Chee- 
ver. Had it been Jeffrey’s letter which Julie had 
been reading? It might be. She had frankly con¬ 
fessed that she cared more for Billy than for any 
man beside her father. Caring wasn’t loving. But 
she had spent hours of late with her old pal. There 
was magic in vacation air. Had constant outdoor 
companionship changed the quality of her regard 
for her friend from affection to love? He couldn’t 
believe it. He wouldn’t. 

The roadster swung into the highway. Had Julie 
intended to shoot the rapids or had she threatened 
It to tease the housekeeper? Sarah could be mad¬ 
dening. Whether the girl had been in earnest or 
not he wouldn’t take the chance of not being on the 
bridge when Easy Money shot under. Of course 
she could make the drop safely. It wasn’t much of 
a stunt. It needed a level head and a steady hand, 
that was all. Why the dickens was he in such a 
fever about it? There was hardly a breath of air 
stirring, nothing to mix signals for her. Good 
Lord, but it was hot! 

He -wiped the slight beads of moisture from his 
183 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


forehead which were not occasioned by the sun 
overhead. Below the road a smooth sapphire sea 
thinned to lace-edged daintiness as it frilled the 
shore. Traiford dragged his eyes from the i;oad 
long enough to appraise the wet kelp. 

“ The tide is on the ebb. She’s right as to time,” 
he approved and stepped on the accelerator. Gulls 
screamed raucously as they wheeled above him. 
Never before had he realized the distance from 
Brick House to the bridge. Shrubs and trees on 
the upper side of the road flashed by him like a 
panorama. On the water side the sea and foam 
were a blur of color. It was fortunate that the 
highway was deserted, he congratulated himself 
grimly. Jaffrey had no right to take Julie over the 
falls without consulting him. The autocratic spirit 
of the First Trafford rampaged through the mind 
of his descendant. If once he got her back to Brick 
House he would keep a watchful eye on further ad¬ 
venturing with the pal of her Dutch-cut days. Was 
she in love with him? The roadster slid on to the 
bridge. The thought was the motive power behind 
the hand which ground on the brake. As the car 
groaned to a sudden stop, Trafford looked up the 
pond. 

A boat was coming smoothly down. It was his 
boat. He caught the glint of Julie’s hair. She 
was safe! His tense muscles relaxed with a sud- 
184 


HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! 


denness wliicli left liini limp. With his hand on 
the door of the car he leaned forward in his seat to 
watch her. The sun beat out the high lights in 
her hair. She stood erect, boyishly slender, her 
capable hands firmly on the wheel, her eyes straight 
ahead. Was she whistling? He thought the breeze 
brought a few soft notes which he heard above the 
roar of the water below. She had looked up as the 
car stopped. Had she recognized him? It had been 
but an instant before her eyes were back on the 
swift current. Thank the Lord she had made the 
first whirlpool. Only eight more. Good God, what 
had happened? 

Trafiord’s face was livid as he sprang from the 
car and rushed to the rail of the bridge. The boat 
spun. It banged against a rock and catapulted into 
the next cauldron. Julie had abandoned the wheel! 
What was she doing in the boat? She had the 
boat-hook! Didn’t she know it wouldn’t hold? It 
had gone! She had picked up the spaniel. Good 
Lord, she wasn’t planning to jump, was she? He 
made a megaphone of his hands and leaned far over 
the rail. 

Take the oar! ” 

He had thrown his voice against the wind. Could 
she hear? Would she understand? Yes! Without 
looking up she had seized the unwieldy thing. 
God! The boat almost turned turtle that time! 

185 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


She was through the sixth pool. Five to go before 
the falls. The falls! 

With his eyes on the valiant figure in the boat 
which seemed like a toy in the raging water he tore 
at the straps of his leather leggins. Why wouldn’t 
the darned things unfasten! “Steady, Jim, 
steady! ” he admonished himself and attacked them 
carefully. 

Four to go! The last pool had given the boat a 
vicious twist. It had wrenched the oar from the 
girl’s hand, had whirled it about and shot it down¬ 
stream. Thank the Lord, his puttees were off! 
Eyes on the tossing boat he flung his shoes aside. 
He pulled off his coat and swung over the rail of 
the bridge. He clung by one hand and shouted: 

“ Head straight for me! ” 

Had she heard? The rush of water was deafen¬ 
ing. Yes! She waved her hand. She seized the 
remaining oar. Trafford’s eyes burned. His throat 
contracted. Two to go and then the falls. Could 
she keep the boat steady? 


186 


CHAPTER XIV 


As Easy Money spun in the second whirlpool 
Julie instinctively closed her eyes. She could do 
nothing now but grip the spaniel and the side of 
the boat and pray that it might keep right side up 
as it went over the falls. If it did she would be 
quite safe, if it didn't—she shivered. It couldn't 
be her time to die. Die! She fought back the 
thought. One didn't pull through crises by folding 
one's hands in resignation, she reminded herself; 
one fought till one's last breath. Was that a shout? 
For the first time she remembered the roadster on 
the bridge. 

“ Take the oar! ” 

In an instant she had dropped the spaniel to the 
seat and obeyed the shouted command. Her spirits 
rose like a balloon which has cast off excess ballast. 
Her imagination had almost flung her overboard 
instead. 

Against the breeze came another call. The bulky 
oar was wrenched from her hand, whirled about 
and shot down-stream. Her eyes flashed to the rail 
of the bridge. A man hung there. Jim Trafford! 
Julie laughed. She was safe. Nothing could harm 
her now. What was he shouting? She leaned for¬ 
ward. 


187 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


Head straight for me! 

The girl waved her hand. She seized the remain¬ 
ing oar. Hope steeled her arms as she attempted 
to keep Easy Money head on. Jim intended to drop 
into the boat. A sick faintness swept her at the 
possibility of his missing. She rallied sharply. It 
was up to her to make sure that he couldn^t miss. 
As the launch shot out of the last whirlpool the 
man dropped from the rail. He landed in the 
middle of the boat. He grabbed the oar with a 
sharp command: 

“ Sit down! Hold tight! ’’ 

Julie swept the dog from the seat and held him 
between her knees as in a vise. She gripped the 
gunwale with both hands and shut her eyes. She 
had the sensation of hurtling down a bottomless 
pit. The boat smashed into a rock, careened 
crazily, shivered into steadiness and shot into 
smooth water. A hand, warm and compelling, 
loosened her clenched fingers. A voice sounded as 
from a long distance: 

^^Open your eyes. Goldilocks. You are quite 
safe.” 

Julie looked up into Trafford’s livid face, into 
his flaming eyes. She controlled her quivering lips 
with an effort as she smiled: 

The dragon-slayer to the rescue.” Then as he 
continued to regard her with glowing intentness 
188 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


slie asked unsteadily: “ How did you know that I 
was shooting the rapids? The rope broke or I 
should have made itJ’ Her defense was a last 
shuddering defiance of the disturbing eyes which 
held hers. He straightened. 

Sarah told me. The Inferno can hold no ter¬ 
rors for me now. I passed through hell before I 
reached you.’’ He cleared his voice before he called 
to a boy near shore: 

“ Hi, Pete! Pete Sparks! I’ll land on the rocks. 
Take this launch up pond on the flood to-morrow, 
will you? ” 

At his call a man beside the boy who had been 
watching the boat in a trance of fright turned and 
scuttled up over the rocks with crab-like gait. The 
spaniel rumbled and shook with a throaty growl as 
he spied the white bulldog at his heels. 

Willy Small again! Had Jim seen him, Julie 
wondered. Apparently not, for his eyes were on 
the freckle-faced boy whom he had hailed; a boy 
whose skinny legs, bare, burned and prodigally 
nicked, dangled over the edge of an immense boulder 
as he fished for flounders. He had nodded a dumb 
acquiescence to Trafford’s request. His eyes, of the 
sculpin type, threatened to pop from his head, his 
mouth to remain permanently open. He closed it 
with a fish-like gasp before he answered: 

‘^Gee, but you had me knocked for a gooll 
189 


HERE C0ME8 TEE SUN I 


Cracky, but you took a chance! I thought the old 
tub was gonna turn turtle. Whatcha let your wheel 
go for? An’ with a girl aboard too! Sure, Ill take 
it back. Ill come get. it now.” 

Julie felt herself labeled and pigeonholed by that 
scornful Girl.” The color burned in her cheeks 
as steadied by Trafford’s grip on her arm she 
slipped and slid on the rocks which he climbed 
easily in his stockinged feet. In silence he helped 
her to the bridge, in ominous silence he pulled on 
his shoes, tossed his puttees into the car and slipped 
into his coat. The flash of his eyes as they met hers 
reminded the girl of heat-lightning; it indicated a 
storm brewing. She whistled for the spaniel Avho 
was barking at the boy. Her tone was elaborately 
casual as she announced: 

As I am late for luncheon I’ll walk to the vil¬ 
lage and get-” 

Oh, no, you won’t. You are coming with me. 
Were you to meet your pal, Billy, there is no know¬ 
ing what crazy stunt you and he might pull off.” 

Julie’s eyes blazed indignation but they might 
have been limpid pools of concession for all the 
impression they made on the man who faced them. 
He settled the collar of his coat with painstaking 
care, then before she realized his intention, he had 
picked her up, deposited her in the roadster and 
had dropped the dog at her feet. She was still 
190 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


struggling for adequate expression when he backed 
the car from the bridge and turned toward 
home. 

He drove slowly. Was he preparing to indict 
her, Julie wondered. She hoped not, for she had a 
hundred things to say to him, and a hundred 
thoughts which were too deep for expression. She 
wanted to tell him what it had meant to her when 
she had seen him hanging from the bridge, her 
sense of security for herself, her terror for him. 
An appreciation of his help had been on her lips 
but his autocratic command had aroused the horrid 
little demon of opposition which was forever stalk¬ 
ing her common sense. He and Managing Martha 
had much the same effect upon her. They must be 
cousins under the skin. The thought curved her 
lips. Trafford saw the smile. His face had not 
yet retrieved its normal color. 

I envy you your sense of humor. As yet I can 
see nothing funny in your last escapade,^^ he com¬ 
mented gruffly. Julie was penitent. If she had 
been terrified at her own plight back there in the 
rapids what must a looker-on have felt? 

Neither can I, Jim. I wasn't laughing, really. 
It was my nerves unknotting. Nerves do curious 
things when they straighten out. They began to 
untangle when I looked up and saw you on the 
bridge. The sight poured the elixir of courage 
191 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

through my veins. I knew that nothing could hap¬ 
pen to me.’’ 

I wish that I could have been as sure! ” The 
color rushed back to his face. Why did you try 
to shoot the rapids alone? ” 

Eagerly, breathlessly Julie told him of the dog’s 
plight and her rush to his rescue. 

But you told Sarah that you intended to try 
it.” 

I said it merely to tease her. She is such an 
autocrat. I was half-way to the bridge when I 
pulled Sweetie-peach out of the water. It meant 
a long hard pull for Easy Money to go back, I 
wasn’t sure of the gas, and I had shot the rapids 
almost every day with Billy. The last three times 
we went over I had the wheel. We had planned to 
try it again to-day but Billy sent word-” 

Did he telephone? ” 

‘^No, wires have ears, and we don’t let Aunt 
Martha know all that we do. One of the Shore- 

haven chauffeurs brought a note-” 

note!” 

Yes. One might think from your tone that I 
had said an automatic. I should have come through 
the rapids without the least trouble had the rud¬ 
der-rope held. That break wouldn’t happen once in 
a thousand years. I may shoot them twenty times 
more and-” 


192 




HERE C0ME8 THE SUN ! 


You may—^but you won^t.” 

Juliets face flooded with indignant color. She 
buckled on her armor of defiance. She was pas¬ 
sionately grateful to him for his help but he must 
be made to understand that her gratitude did not 
carry with it a right-of-way across her independ¬ 
ence. She asserted herself in a voice of amused 
patronage: 

From your tone one might think that you had 
a right to dictate to me.” 

Haven^t I? ” 

<‘No. I don’t like to appear ungrateful after 
what you have just done but we had better come to 
an understanding. You are as domineering as 
Managing Martha; you are fast getting to be a—a 
Sheik’’ 

Trafford threw back his head and laughed. His 
eyes were alight with dancing sparks as they met 
hers, fiery with indignation; his rich voice held a 
caressing note. 

A sheik! No such luck. If I were one you 
would at the present moment be smothered in my 
burnous—isn’t that the name of those white flow¬ 
ing things the sheiks wear in the movies?—thrown 
across the saddle-bow of my trusty Arab-steed while 
we flashed across the desert.” 

His mounting spirits were more disturbing than 
his anger had been. The picture his words pre- 
193 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


sented had a tingling realism which, set Julie’s 
pulses pounding. 

Go on, state your other objections to me. You 
have an aversion to the Arab streak, what else? ” 

His light tone fired the girl with a desire to hurt 
him. 

I think that a man who was engaged to a girl 
should be willing to acknowledge it—at least.” 

‘‘If you are referring to me I can assure you 
that I have never been engaged. If Jaffrey or 
Carfax told you that I had they are liars.” 

“Jim!” 

“ If you don’t care for the word we’ll modify it. 
I’ll call them psychopathic liars. That relieves 
them of all responsibility.” 

“ They were not the only ones. If the story is 
true you can easily get engaged again after elec¬ 
tion.” 

“ Julie, look at me! ” 

Involuntarily the girl’s eyes met his. He laughed. 

“ I thought for an instant that you believed that 
statement, that you had forgotten what I told you 
the evening you came to Brick House, but I see 
that you haven’t. By the way, your mother sug¬ 
gests that I bring you home to her after elec¬ 
tion.” 

“Mother! Suggested ttoWhen?” 

“ When she answered my letter.” 

194 


HERE COME^ THE ^UN ! 


Your letter?’^ 

Did you think that I would rob your parents of 
their littlest girl without giving them my side of 
the story, Julie? 

That accounts for it.” 

Accounts for what? ” 

Something in the letter I read from Mother, 
this morning.” 

Were you reading it out by the old mill? ” 

Yes, why? ” the surprise in her tone was sub¬ 
merged in indignation. ^^Did Pamela tell you 
that—^that ” 

She did. Was it your mother’s letter? ” 

You can find that out from your informer.” 

No. I shall wait for you to tell me.” 

His tone was as crisp as hers. She looked at him 
from under long lashes as the silence between them 
persisted. He was bending slightly forward, intent 
eyes on a shambling figure ahead. She recognized 
the hitching gait. She had not told Trafiord that 
she had seen Small at Blue Heron Cove. Events 
had moved so quickly up to the announcement of 
the marriage that she had forgotten it. After that 
what harm could Willy do? 

Do you see that man ahead, Julie? ” 

The girl nodded. 

That is Small, the bleak-eyed witness Cheever 
relied upon to corroborate his story of finding us in 
195 


HERE COMES TEE SUN ! 


tlie cabin. I bad hoped that this‘time he had dis¬ 
appeared forever.’^ 

Has he the disappearing habit? ” 

“ Yes. In his youth he was the town’s bad boy. 
If anyone wanted a shady transaction put through 
they would give Willy fishing tackle or money and 
he was their man. Then he’d go away for a while. 
He isn’t vicious. He’s just too darned lazy to 
work and if a man won’t labor for a living he’s 
rather sure to lie or do something worse for it. 
I wonder why he came back—^just now? ” 

The lids narrowed over his gray eyes. Ought 
she to tell him that she had seen Small at the Cove? 

She opened her lips- 

“If Willy Small tries to speak to you, don’t 
answer him; do you understand, Julie? ” 

“ Ye-es, but-” 

“ In this case there is to be no ‘ but.’ You must 
do as I say.” 

He stopped the roadster at the door of Brick 
House. Julie disdained his extended hand and 
sprang from the car. Autocrat! The fact that he 
had listened to Pamela’s tale still rankled unbear¬ 
ably. He talked with persons who had a slight 
regard for the truth and believed them; why 
shouldn’t she have the same privilege? She 
wouldn’t tell him now that she had seen Willy at 
the Cove. He could find that out for himself. 

196 



HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


Trafford followed her into the hall like a relent¬ 
less destiny. She ignored him as she smiled radi¬ 
antly at Sarah Beddle and explained gaily: 

^^It took me rather longer than I thought it 
would to shoot the rapids. I am sorry to have kept 
luncheon waiting. Please do not scold us.” 

The housekeeper sniffed. 

“ So you did that fool thing, did you? I guess 
The Trafford can have his meals any time he likes 
without no one’s thinking it necessary to apologize 
for him. CharityTl serve lunch as soon as you’ve 
both washed up,” she announced and disappeared 
in the direction of the kitchen. 

Julie started up the stairs. In the peaceful 
atmosphere of the old house her resentment, her 
latent fear of the owner misted into vapor. She 
stopped and looked back over her shoulder. 

I will be down as soon as I ‘ wash up.’ By 
that time Sarah will be hovering over you and will 
have forgotten that I was the unworthy cause of 
the delay. Teacher’s pet! ” She made an adorable 
gamin face at him. 

Trafford seized her by the shoulders. His eyes 
met and held hers. His voice was gruff: 

Julie, my self-control is mighty near the snap¬ 
ping-point. If ever you wrinkle your nose at me 
like that again—I shall kiss you, so watch your 
step! ” 


197 


CHAPTEE XY 


As you come through the village, if it ain’t too 
much trouble, I wish you’d get some chloroform, 
M’s. Jim. M’s. Trafford told me before she left 
that if I didn’t put the old cat, she’s this one’s 
mother, to sleep before she came back she’d have 
Phin Snow do it. I wouldn’t trust that old woman- 
hater to drown even a female rat. I’ve fed and 
loved that animal for ten years and it seems as 
though ’twould break my heart to put her out of 
the way.” 

Julie slipped the proffered money into the pocket 
of her violet sweater. She smiled sympathetically 
at the angular woman who blocked the doorway of 
her room with tawny Marcella rubbing against her 
knees. 

“I will do it for you, Sarah. I’m an expert. 
Dad’s parishioners have turned to me for every¬ 
thing from making out mail-orders for their clothes 
to dispatching their age-battered pets.” She 
stooped to stroke the yellow coon-cat who purred 
against her gown. 

I never see Marcella so took with anyone as she 
is with you, M’s. Jim. If it wasn’t for that black 
pest of a—my land! Here he comes now! Mar- 
198 


HERE COME& THE SUN ! 

cella! Marcella! Come here!” she implored as 
with a yelp of anticipation the spaniel dashed into 
the room. For an instant he stopped to regard 
grinningly his hereditary enemy who was arched 
like a recumbent interrogation point, and whose red 
jaws and topaz eyes snarled defiance. Julie crushed 
a soft hat over her fair hair. 

<‘I’ll take him out at once, Sarah. I haven’t 
forgotten the havoc those two wrought the last time 
they had a tooth-to-tooth combat in these rooms. 
Sweetie-peach, you’re a torment! Come along I 
Quick!” 

She ran down the winding stairs but the spaniel 
scaped her and doubled back. The housekeeper 
swept him out of the room and slammed the 
door. 

There, you cantankerous critter,” she sighed in 
relief as they reached the lower hall. Just wait 
a minute, M’s. Jim, till I get the bottle for the 
chloroform. No use paying that drug-clerk ten 
cents extra. Seems as though I was forgetting 
everything since Phin Snow told me this morning 
that it looked as though Ben Cheever might get 
elected.” 

rTow can he-but the housekeeper had dis¬ 

appeared. “ How can he be elected, how can he? ” 
Julie demanded of space resentfully. ''A man like 
that-” 


199 


HERE COME^ THE EUN I 

^ A man like what? ” her argumentative self de¬ 
manded. Except for his dastardly behavior at the 
cabin—and his world did not know of that—^what 
reason had she to think that Ben Cheever would 
not be a useful man in the legislature? He had 
been a model of courtesy and consideration since 
his accident. Jim Trafford evidently knew some¬ 
thing to his discredit and as evidently was deter¬ 
mined not to use the knowledge as a weapon in his 
campaign. Julie frowned down upon the dog who 
was gazing up at her expectantly. 

Suppose that I were to find out what it was? 
Would I use it, Sweetie-peach?” The spaniel 
shook back his long ears, barked imperiously, stood 
up on his hind legs, settled back on his haunches, 
tilted his head and whined ingratiatingly. Laugh¬ 
ter sunned the shadow from the girPs eyes. 

You are a fascinator but you are not going with 
me. You have been a bad boy, do you understand? ” 
She spoke to the housekeeper as she appeared with 
the bottle. Please shut the dog into the garage 
after I drive out, Sarah. Don’t expect me too soon. 
It is a glorious afternoon and I may do a little ex¬ 
ploring. Don’t let Sweetie-peach follow me, will 
you? He must be disciplined.” 

Julie made her purchases and drove slowly from 
the village. She had thought it unnecessary to tell 
Sarah that her objective point was the field above 
200 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


Blue Heron Cove. Since Billy Lad told Ler of tLe 
villagers’ superstitious avoidance of the cliff and 
the copper-mine sLe Lad wondered if tLe bleak¬ 
eyed man wLose Lead Lad popped above ground 
like a prairie-dog’s might not be responsible for 
that c-curious, 1-luminous mist Billy Lad described? 
He Lad been sent to prepare the cabin for CLeever; 
might he not be working for him at the mine? Jim 
distrusted Willy Small. Did he suspect that he 
was Lis opponent’s tool? 

It seemed unbelievable that in these twentieth 
century days a man of CLeever’s importance would 
dare indulge in such clap-trap melodrama as spec¬ 
tral mists. Whatever Jim suspected he Lad given 
no Lint of it in the campaign which Lad been waged 
with renewed but friendly vigor since CLeever’s 
recovery. Julie Lad Lad no opj>ortunity to ask 
Trafford Low the fight was going. SLe Lad avoided 
him during the week which Lad elapsed since he 
Lad dropped from the bridge to her rescue. 

Through Sarah and the boy Pete, undoubtedly, 
the news of Ler narrow escape had spread. Her 
aunt had been angry, Mrs. Trafford tenderly dis¬ 
approving, Pamela Parkman contemptuous. Carfax 
amused. They had all ignored the fact that she had 
started out to rescue, not to do a dare-devil stunt. 
Billy had scolded her roundly. 

‘‘A nice position you have put me in, Marble- 
201 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


heart. I can see Jim grind his teeth when he looks 
at me and I don^t wonder. Oh, I understand that 
you went to the rescue of that confounded dog, but 
he would have fought his way to shore. If you 
belonged to me and had tried that stunt alone I’d 
keep you on bread and water for a week. Trafford 
was jumpy enough before but now when I sx)eak 
to you he looks as though he were holding a stop¬ 
watch on us.” 

Billy was right, Julie meditated. Although Jim 
appeared never to look at her she felt as though she 
were under observation whenever he and she were 
in the same room, which situation occurred as sel¬ 
dom as possible. She was expending most of her 
gray matter these days devising routes and methods 
to dodge him. Thank heaven, there was but one 
more whole day before election. After that he and 
she could begin to untangle the mesh in which Fate, 
ably abetted by the black spaniel and Cheever, had 
caught them. 

Stick your head in the sand, Julie, if you 
please, but you can’t alter the fact that I love 
you.” 

The words shot to the surface of the girl’s mind. 
She whistled a difficult aria to shut out the mem¬ 
ory. It began to look as though the only way out 
of the mix-up would be to ingloriously cut short the 
golden vacation in which she was to think only of 
202 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


herself and go home. Home! Impasse! That road 
was blocked. Her mother had invited Trafford to 
come with her. 

Her eyes strayed to the sea which scintillated 
like a many faceted emerald shot with blue. A 
purple haze veiled the horizon. Toward the west 
a few cloud-puffs had taken on a tint of rose. She 
loved the place. She didn^t want to go home, she 
would feel shut in. She loved Brick House and— 
who was in the low red roadster speeding toward 
her? 

It was Cheever. She straightened in her seat. 
Could she pass without being hailed by him? He 
had been at Shorehaven whenever she had been 
there this last week and had been insufferably at¬ 
tentive. He had reminded Julie of a big blue-bottle 
fly who persisted in buzzing about the person whom 
it annoyed the most. 

When his car approached her sedan he shut off 
his engine, evidently preparatory to a heart-to- 
heart talk, the girl thought with a twitch of her 
vivid lips. She slowed down. He swept off his hat 
with his conqueror^s air. His eyes—ooch, how she 

hated his eyes when he smiled- 

Good-afternoon, Mrs. Trafford. Out for an air¬ 
ing? ” 

Always he made Julie conscious of a note of 
amusement in his Mrs. Trafford.’^ The little 
203 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


veins at her temples throbbed with resentment as 
she answered: 

Mr. Senator, I am out for a vote. Good- 
afternoon.” 

She bent to the gears and the sedan shot ahead. 
She listened for the sound of Cheever^s engine; ap¬ 
parently he had not started it. Was he watching 
her out of sight? Did he suspect that she hoped to 
locate Willy Small? Why should he? He might 
think that she was after Willy’s vote for Jim. 
Wasn’t she, in a way? 

The breeze which blew from the water was salty 
and invigorating. Julie filled her lungs with it. 
The air was heady with vitality, rich with that 

Open sesame! ” quality which made one sure that 
one had but to knock imperatively at any obsti¬ 
nately closed door to swing it open. 

Just ahead the road divided. The right fork 
forsook the primrose path of highway to zigzag 
into the green plateau which crowned the <!jliff above 
Blue Heron Cove. There it dwindled into a foot¬ 
path. Julie turned the sedan into the field and 
shut off the engine. Now that she had embarked on 
the adventure her nerve-centres tingled a warning. 
She left the car slowly. The field in front of her 
stretched smoothly to the fringe of berry-bushes, 
she remembered. Beyond them the sea flashed on 
and on inimitably. The fragrant darkness of pines 
204 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


and spruces, lightened in spots by flaming maples 
and yellowing birches, stretched for miles behind 
her. 

As she started across the field she smiled defiance 
at the No Trespassing and Danger signs she 
passed. The world seemed uncannily still. Only 
the monotonous lash of the sea against the cliff 
broke the silence. She looked up startled as far 
above her a hawk swooped and sailed and shrilled 
its strident battle-cry. 

Julie walked slowly with her eyes on the turf. 
There must be something to indicate that opening 
in the sod, she assured herself. She would go to 
the fringe of berry-bushes, locate the spot from 
which she had seen Willy SmalFs head emerge, 
then work forward. Eyes downbent she advanced. 
A warning growl followed by a whine of pain drew 
her eyes to the left. 

Thank heaven I didn’t bring Sweetie-i)each,” 
she thought as she saw a white bulldog biting 
furiously at his back. At her low exclamation of 
sympathy he turned with a menacing snarl. In 
spite of it the girl took a quick step toward him. 
His small eyes set in pink rims were anguished, 
pleading, his nose and neck resembled nothing so 
much as a white cushion stuck full of pins. With 
an imploring whine the dog crawled to her feet and 
looked up beseechingly. 

205 


HERE COMEB THE SUN I 


Tlie tortured eyes twisted Julie’s breath into a 
sob. She dropped to her knees. She didn’t attempt 
to touch him but her voice seemed to comfort the 
sufferer. 

Poor dear! Will you let Julie look at your 
nose? You’ve had a fight with a porcupine, haven’t 
you? Where is your master? Is anyone here?’’ 
she called. 

The bushes stirred. A head rose above them. 
The girl looked up at the grotesque face upon which 
wind, sun and self-indulgence had lavishly dabbed 
their colors. 

Come here, Willy Small. Is this your dog? ” 
she inquired, as the man hitched nearer with crab¬ 
like gait. His bleak eyes were blurred, his voice 
cracked with emotion as he answered: 

He is, ma’am. Hooch an’ me have traveled to¬ 
gether fer years. He never got stuck with one of 
them d—one of them hedgehogs before. This time 
a black an’ white pointer comes an’ barks an’ Hooch 
here rubs noses with him an’ the two run off to¬ 
gether like kids as is up to some innercent mischief. 
When my dog come back he was like this. Ye can’t 
tell me that pointer hadn’t framed up the hunt an’ 
come fer Hooch ter help him.” 

He knelt beside the girl. The dog dragged him¬ 
self closer and looked up imploringly. He whined 
continuously. 


206 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


^^You don^t know notMn’ to ease him, do you, 
ma^am? When he first come hack he raced round 
and round tryin’ to git at his neck. I thought he’d 
gone mad. Then I tried to pull out some of them 
spines. I must have hurt him terrible.” He laid 
his dirty hand with its broken discolored nails ten¬ 
derly on the white back. Julie swallowed hard. 

Poor old Hooch! I wish that I could help him. 
One of my dogs got into a mess like this and I had 
to chloro—wait a minute—^wait a minute! ” she 
interrupted herself breathlessly. ^^Lift his head 
from my lap, Willy Small. I had better not touch 
him. Keep him quiet till I come back. Kice 
Hooch! Be patient till Julie comes! She’ll make 
you all comfy,” she crooned tenderly before she 
sprang to her feet and started across the field. 

She pulled gloves and a bunch of waste from the 
pocket of the sedan, rummaged in the tool box for 
the slenderest pliers, seized the phial of chloroform 
and a newspaper and raced back to the bushes. 
Hooch turned agonized, bloodshot eyes upon her. 

^^I’ll try—^to give—^him some—chloroform,” she 
panted. 

Ye ain’t plannin’ to dope him an’ put him out 

of his misery, are ye, ma’am, because I-” 

“ Ko, no, I am trying to help him. I’ll be honest, 
Willy, One never can tell just what effect the stuff 
will have upon a dog, but it is his only chance. If 
207 


HERE COMEE THE SUN ! 


we can make kim inhale enough to paralyze his 
muscles I can pull out those spines. Shall I 
try? 

Sure, ma^am. Go to it.^^ 

Julie pulled off her sweater and turned back her 
sleeves. Deftly she rolled the newspaper into a 
cone and stuffed it with waste. She drew on her 
gloves. She talked softly to the dog as she made 
her preparations. He whined a heart-wringing ac¬ 
companiment. The girl was quite unconscious of 
the two big tears which ran down her cheeks as she 
directed: 

As soon as I pour the stuff on this waste roll 
Hooch over, Willy, and grip him so that he can’t 
move. He’ll struggle, so hold tight. Now! 
Quick! ” 

With amazing dexterity the man followed in¬ 
structions. With teeth set hard in her lip Julie 
applied the cone. Tears followed tears down her 
face as the dog protested with dumb anguish. Then 
it seemed but an instant before he relaxed and lay 
terrifyingly still. Julie swiftly applied the clumsy 
pliers. She was subconsciously aware of Small’s 
hard breathing; once a big drop splashed from his 
chin to her glove. After she had cleared nose and 
neck she had the man force open the dog’s mouth 
while she extracted six big spines from the pink 
roof of it. As she drew out the last spiked, thorned 
208 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

quill she dropped the pliers and sank back on her 
heels. 

They^re out! Do stop those bushes. They’re 

whirl-” The world went black. Willy Small’s 

distracted voice pursued her into the darkness. 

Fer God’s sake don’t faint, ma’am! Ben Chee- 
ver might come back. He’d think I tried to frighten 
yer, an’ I ain’t never frightened a woman, what¬ 
ever else I done. I ain’t never frightened no 
woman! ” 

Julie opened her eyes. She tried to smile. 

Of course you haven’t, Willy. Don’t worry. I 
sha’n’t faint. I never fainted in my life but I was 
so anxious to help poor old Hooch,—I felt every one 
of those awful things I pulled out. If—if I could 

have some water-” She braced her elbows on 

her knees and dropped her head into her hands. 

Sure, ma’am. Just you keep quiet an’ I’ll get 
some. Don’t you faint while I’m gone, will yer? 

I won’t be a min-” His voice died away as he 

ran sideways down the field. Julie remained mo¬ 
tionless till the sensation of faintness passed. She 
raised her head and looked at the dog. She stroked 
his rough coat. Poor old Hooch. He had seemed 
to know that she would help him. Poor Willy 
Small- 

Willy Small! The thought dispersed the last 
wisp of dizziness. Where had he gone? He had 
209 






HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


feared Ben Cheever^s return. Was she on the verge 
of a discovery which might help Jim Trafford? 
She took her bearings. Behind her a flaming su¬ 
mach nodded and swayed in the afternoon breeze. 
It was the one bit of brilliant color among the 
bushes which fringed the field. At a sound she 
turned. In a straight line from the burning bush 
a piece of ground was suddenly thrown back. As 
a head popped from the opening Julie dropped her 
face into her hands. 

Here it is, ma’am. It ain’t much of a cup but 
it’s clean an’ full of spring water.” 

Julie looked up and accepted the dripping can 
colorfully adorned with an impossible tomato. 
She drank thirstily. She returned it with a pale 
smile. Did the man remember her as the girl he 
had seen in the cabin, she wondered. She tried to 
hold his bleak eyes but they shifted like a dog’s. 
If he remembered her evidently he had no intention 
of taking advantage of the fact. Jim need not 
have forbidden her to speak to him. She picked 
up the pliers and the phial and stood up. She 
looked down at the dog who lay with eyes half open. 

‘‘ Hooch will be all right when he wakes, Willy. 
He will appear chastened for a day or two, after 
that he will look for revenge. You had better keep 
him close. He may not come out of the next porcu¬ 
pine fight so well. Do you live near here? ” 

210 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


“I don't live nowhere, ma'am, I'm a traveling 
man," Small corrected with a sudden flash of hu¬ 
mor. Hooch an' I, we pick up our livin' where 
we can find it. Je«t now I'm actin' as caretaker fer 
a man, hut I'm quittin' the job. I'm much obliged 
to yer fer helpin' Hooch. Seems as though I hadn't 
got no words to say it." He cleared his throat. 

Was you here fer anything special? " 

Here in this field? I came to see the view. 
Glorious, isn't it? I have seen rather more than I 
expected. I must go. Pat Hooch for me, Willy. 
Good-afternoon." 

“ Good-bye, an' thank you again. Be careful you 
don't step down no holes," he cleared his throat 
once, twice before he added: 

“ Jest a minute, ma'am. Don't let Ben Cheever 
put anything acrosst on you. He ain't never lost 
his memory, i^'ot for a minute." 


211 


CHAPTER XVI 


For an instant tlie bleak eyes met Julie’s. As 
they shifted she caught the man’s arm. 

“What is Ben Cheever trying to put across, 
Willy? ” 

“ You’ll have to spell thet out fer yourself; I can’t 
say nothin’ more.” 

The girl thrust her hands into her pockets and 
looked out to sea where the slanting sun was trans¬ 
forming a string of cabin-topped dories on their 
way to the fishing grounds into golden gondolas 
sailing an enchanted ocean. Jim Trafford’s elec¬ 
tion might depend upon her reply to Small. Self- 
indulgence and sloth had clogged the man’s normal 
impulses and intelligence with the ashes of failures 
but deep down under them a spark of conscience 
had flickered when she had helped his dog. Could 
she fan it into a flame? His heavy lips instinc¬ 
tively responded to her smile as she looked up. 

“ Ben Cheever was here before I came, was he 
not? Why didn’t he take poor Hooch to the 
veterinary in the village? ” 

“ I asked him, wouldn’t he, an’ he laughed an’ 
called Hooch a mongrel cur an’ when the dog 
growled he up an’ kicked him.” 

212 


HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! 

Kicked him.! When he was suffering! Oh, no, 
W^illy, no! ’’ 

He did, the da—^mean cuss. I tells him then 
an' there that he could git another party to do his 
work. I was through, ter-day.'' 

‘‘To-day! I'm sorry, Willy. I wanted to see 
Hooch again; he's my patient, you know. Wait 
until Monday. I'll bring him the nicest, juiciest 
bone I can find. Wlien I come perhaps you will 
show me through the old copper-mine. I want to 
explore it and I suspect that you know it better 
than anyone else." 

Small's eyes which had been on the unconscious 
dog met the girl's. Something stirred behind their 
bleakness. It was as though an imprisoned spirit 
were fighting its way to look through bars, Julie 
thought. “ Help me to free it! Help me to free 
it! " she prayed fervently. 

“ Ain't you afraid to go down in the old copper- 
mine with me? Jim Trafford wouldn't let you if 
he knowed. He's had me watched like a lynx since 
the day you come through the rapids with him." 

Julie's heart gave one thump and quieted. 

“He doesn't know you as well as I do, Willy. 
He didn't hear you say a few moments ago that 
never had you frightened a woman." 

The imprisoned spirit shook at the bars as the 
man reaffirmed doggedly: 

213 


HERE VOMEi^ THE SUN I 


An’ I ain’t never, an’ so help me God, I never 
will. Why can’t you come ter-morrer? ” 

Julie struggled to keep the mounting excitement 
from her voice. “ I couldn’t get away on Sunday, 
Willy.” 

^‘Then come Monday at about four. It’ll be 
election day—^too late to do any good this year 
but you may see somethin’ that’ll help Jim Traf- 
ford next year; mind yer, I only say yer may. 
You’d better be goin’ now, ma’am, an’ goin’ quick. 
Cheever might come back an’ if he was to see us 
together-—well, good-night to yer plan of cornin’ 
Monday. You won’t ferget that bone? ” 
i^^o, Willy. I’ll bring it. Good-bye.” 

He was back beside his dog before she had fin¬ 
ished the sentence. Julie’s thoughts rioted with 
melodramatic possibilities as she drove to the vil¬ 
lage to have the phial refilled. She did not dare 
face Sarah Beddle without it. What could Willy 
show her that would discredit Cheever? She must 
be cautious. Were Jim to suspect that she was in 
communication with Small he might do more than 
forbid her to speak to him. His mother had been 
right. There was a cave-man tinge in the Traf- 
fords. She stirred uneasily. There had been a 
smile in the depths of the present mill-magnate’s 
eyes but determination in his voice when he had 
warned her not to wrinkle her nose at him again. 

214 


HERE COAIES THE SUN ! 


As lie was not there to see she indulged herself 
once adorably at his expense before she again 
caught up the thread of SmalFs disclosures. What¬ 
ever evidence she gained would be kept up her 
sleeve as a sort of hand-grenade, Willy had in¬ 
timated that Cheever^s loss of memory was a blind. 
Wnhiat could the state senator hope to gain by it? 
Did he intend to blare his version of the cabin 
episode at the last minute? If he did, possibly— 
just possibly—by Monday night she would have a 
nice, fat bomb rammed to the fuse with T N T to 
fling at him in return. 

Monday night! That was the evening of Martha 
Marshall’s reception to the villagers. Every citizen 
in town had been invited to meet the new senator. 
A marquee was to be erected on the lawn for the 
employees of the two mills, there was to be a caterer 
and two orchestras from New York. Julie had 
protested: 

“But think how unpleasant it will be for the 
defeated candidate,” and her aunt had answered 
crisply: 

“It will give him an opportunity to show that 
characteristic which you and Billy are forever 
glorifying, his sporting spirit.” 

Was Gheever waiting for that occasion to recover 
his memory? Julie’s heart tripped and stumbled 
on. Willy had warned her for some reason. 

215 


HERE COMEB TEE EUN ! 


Should she tell Jim? What good would it do? If 
she did he would find out that she had talked with 
Willy Small; he might cross-examine her till he 
discovered the plan for Monday. She would keep 
her own counsel. 

It was dusk when she reached Brick House. 
The September twilight was cool and crisp and 
fragrant. In the living-room a cheery fire of cannel 
coal blazed and crackled in the Franklin grate. 
The silver water-kettle on the tea-table steamed 
industriously above the alcohol fiame. The fat 
Canton teapot snuggled in its cosy, between its 
lemon and cream ladies-in-waiting. The yellow cat 
in her accustomed place beneath the Duchess 
blinked wise eyes at the muffin-stand. Julie pulled 
off hat and sweater and hailed her: 

^‘I could eat you, Marcella, I am so hungry! 

I- Heavens, how you frightened me. Dal,’’ she 

exclaimed as a figure rose from the wing-chair. 
Carfax passed his hand hurriedly across his eyes. 
In the faint light he looked white and shaken. 

^‘What has happened? Has Aunt Martha— 
Billy- 

No, no, Julie, nothing like that. I heard-” 

he broke off and caught her two hands in his. The 
lips he suddenly pressed upon them were w^hite. 

Julie, I love-” 

The girl, who at first had been too stupefied with 
216 






HEKE (J0ME8 THE SUN ! 


amazement to move, snatched her hands from his. 
She clenched them behind her. Her tone was more 
incredulous than angry as she demanded: 

Dal, have you gone mad? 

No. Will you marry me when this farce with 
Trafford is annulled? ” 

Dal! ’’ 

With the horrified exclamation Julie shrank 
away from him. She backed into the tea-table with 
a force which set its appointments jangling just as 
the lights flashed on and a voice from the door in¬ 
quired : 

Why try to serve tea in the dark, Julie? ” 

In the sudden glare the room was a blur, then 
the girFs vision cleared. She gripped her com¬ 
posure and smiled radiantly at Trafford. 

That is better, Jim, thank you. One lump or 
two, Dal?” she inquired as she ijoised silver 
tongs. 

“ I won’t stop for tea, Julie. Billy asked me to 
drop in and tell you that the fishing-trip was on 
for Monday-” 

Monday! I can’t—did he say morning or after¬ 
noon? ” 

Morning, of course, with a picnic lunch at the 
old mill. He thought it would help you bear the 
suspense of waiting for election returns. How’s 
the battle going, Jim? ” 


217 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 

is almost over. I’m speaking to-night and 
then I’m through.” 

To-night! But we are to dine at Shorehaven! ” 

Sorry, Julie, but Cheever has staged a last 
rally. Take my regrets to Aunt Martha, Carfax.” 

^^I will. Good-bye, Julie. I’ll see you at din¬ 
ner? ” 

The girl avoided the question in Carfax’s eyes. 
She appeared absorbed in the cup she was filling. 

“ Ye-es. Don’t forget to teU Aunt Martha that 
Jim is not coming.” 

When Trafford returned from accompanying his 
guest to the door he snapped off the lights and 
plunged the room into flame-tinted dusk. He 
leaned an arm on the mantel and steadily regarded 
the girl by the table. 

Was Carfax annoying you. Goldilocks? ” 

Cap to dynamite. Julie’s self-control blew up. 
The surgical operation she had performed on the 
dog had insidiously undermined it. 

Annoy me! What has happened to you all? 
First you smash our friendship and now- 

now -” her voice broke; tears dimmed the blaze 

in her eyes. She made a precipitate dash for the 
door. Trafford caught her by the shoulders. 

^^I can’t let you go like this, Julie. You are 
right, something has happened to our friendship. 
You haven’t looked at me for a week. You have 
218 


I HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

\ lodged me every chance yon could get. We seem 
:o he drifting farther and farther apart and I won’t 
ciave it.” 

It is your own fault. You glare every time I 
i play with Billy and-” 

! Then my glare must be an almost continuous 
\ performance. What other sins have I committed? ” 

( Julie warmed to her grievance. 

^ You know how I hate sentiment—that I only 
\ came to Brick House to help—and you take ad¬ 
vantage of that and spoil everything by telling me 
that-” 

That I love you? Forget it, if that is what is 
wrecking our friendship. Put it out of your mind.” 

j I can’t! I think of it all the ti-” she held 

f back the word but too late. Trafford caught her 
i close with an exultant laugh. 

I Do you, my Sleeping Beauty? Then put this 
memory with it! ” he whispered huskily before he 
j crushed her lips beneath his. 

For a dazed instant the girl’s eyes remained 
I closed. Then she rallied and twisted herself free. 
Her face was white as she defied him. 

I won’t speak to you again until you apologize 
for that.” 

Trafford’s eyes and voice were recklessly trium- 
, phant. 

Must a man apologize when he kisses his wife? 
i 219 









HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 

This one won^t. I shall do it again at the first 
opportunity.” 

The color scorched to the girl’s hair, then drained 
away. There was an incredulous gasp in the voice 
in which she warned : 

If you do I—I shall run away with Billy.” 


22P 


CHAPTER XVII 


Arrayed in silk skirt, khaki knickers, and hip 
boots, with a rakish tilt to her soft felt hat and a 
basket slung over one shoulder, Julie cast her line 
into deep water in the dark depths of which she 
had seen a darting shadow. Beside a huge boulder 
and beneath an overhanging tree-root the trout pool 
lay still and mysterious, undisturbed by the rip¬ 
pling song, the never-ending murmur of the brook 
which leaped and plunged, splashed and eddied its 
way through the woods on its pilgrimage to merge 
into the pond. The sunlight flirted audaciously 
with spray and foam, now transforming it into 
miniature rainbows, now into a thousand sparkling 
gems. Crisply fragrant with balsam, pine and 
cedar, keen with September energy the breeze 
whipped a glorious color into the girTs cheeks. 
Her eyes watched the swoop of a hawk far, far up 
in the realm of wings. She followed the pirate as 
it circled and melted into the unfathomable blue 
of the sky. Her attention returned to the matter 
at hand. She cast tentatively for a while then 
reeled in her line and confided to the barnyard 
hackle which camouflaged her hook: 

« This pool is a total loss. Why did Billy recom¬ 
mend it? Bille-e-e! Bille-e-e!” she called. She 
221 




HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


listened. From up-stream Jaffrey sent his robust 
and not unmusical voice ahead of him in the one 
song of his repertoire : 

^ To-re-a-dor! To-re-a-dor! For thee a fond 
heart waits. For the-e-e a fond hear-a-art waits! ’ ’’ 

Julie looked up the brook and laughed. Down 
the middle of it came Jaffrey slipping and sliding 
over rocks which invited by their mossy greenness 
and betrayed by their wetness. He puffed from leg 
and voice exertion as he joined her. 

Unlimber your rod, Marble-heart. Dal and 
Pam are to meet us at the old mill. They are to 
motor over with the lunch. Catch either of those 
two children of luxury tramping. Well cut 
through the woods. Quit, you rascal!” he pro¬ 
tested as the black spaniel in close proximity shook 
the water from his coat. 

At the girFs whistle the dog dashed ahead of her 
into the trail. She drew deep breaths of piney 
fragrance as she and Jaffrey trod lightly in In¬ 
dian file. They crossed a small clearing where the 
grass was waist high, where fireweed blazed and 
goldenrod swayed in the breeze. A cloud of brown 
butterflies winged upward at their approach and 
settled back upon the blossoms. They crossed a bit 
of corduroy road and came out upon the bank of \ 
the pond near the old mill. Jaffrey looked up and 
down the shore. 


222 


REEE COMES THE SUN ! 

Pam and Dal haven’t come and I could eat raw 
dog, I'm so hungry." 

They may expect to meet us at the upper mill." 

^^They wouldn’t have to walk a step if they 
stopped there. I’ll bet a hat they are waiting for 
us to find them. We don’t go. This is the best 
place on the shore for a fire." 

'' Go after them, Billy. Don’t grumble, that’s a 
dear. I’m starving. Take Sweetie-peach with you. 

I adore him but he frightens the wood-folk away 
and some may appear if I am alone." 

I’ll go. Do you know what I think? That the 
man-eating Parkman on her way here detoured to 
district headquarters to entice Trafiord out for 
lunch with her." 

Julie paused in the process of tying up her rod. 

Billy, is Pamela really in love with Jim? " 

Jaffrey grinned. She may be but she means 
to marry the man who is successful to-day. Some¬ 
where she has heard that classic ' As Maine goes so 
goes the country.’ She figures that if she starts 
here, no matter how humbly, she’s bound to land 
in Washington. She has the lady-of-the-cabinet bee 
in her bonnet." 

But Jim is married." 

Permanently? I wasn’t born yesterday. Mar¬ 
ble-heart. When Pamela told the story of the run¬ 
away dog I suspected in a flash that you and Traf- 
223 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 

ford were tlie girl and man who had rushed to the 
rescue. The suspicion settled into conviction when 
I read of , the sale of the prize-winning spaniel. 
Your expression of shocked surprise betrayed you. 
Haven’t I known you all your life? Haven’t you 
rushed to the aid of someone or something ever 
since you put up your hair? Did you think that I 
or anyone else believed that war-time-romance ex¬ 
planation? It was a pretty bit of fiction but not 
colorfast. Already there is a faint rumor that the 
marriage was a political move of Jim’s.” 

Then that miserable Cheever is behind it.” 

“ Oh, ho, so Ben is the duslvy gentleman in the 
wood-pile, is he-” 

Billy, I’ll confide-” 

Don’t! What I don’t know I can’t tell. I’m 
sorry to bring this up now but an understanding 
between you and me is a bit overdue. I put you 
wise to that rumor because I had a hunch you ought 
to be prepared to meet it, not have it jumped on 
you. You and Jim met somewhere—^love isn’t a 
matter of time, it is a matter of ignition. Appar¬ 
ently you picked up a hang-over germ of that mar¬ 
ried-in-haste war epidemic. That is the stand I 
have taken against the flood of conjecture in the 
village. And I’ll say right here, Julie, that what¬ 
ever happened I’d trust The Trafiord anywhere, in 
any situation, in spite of the fact that at present he 
224 




HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


is seeing me as through a glass, darkly. I don^t 
mind. I^m flattered pink to have him jealous of 
my red head and super-waistline.’^ He indulged in 
a gratifled chuclde. 

As for you, I never know where your big heart 
will land you, you are a curious combination of 
child and woman, but I do know that you are as 
straight and true as God makes a human. What¬ 
ever your experience was it has changed you. You 
try to be your old gay self, but I sense spiritual 
conflict, poor old Christian lined up against 
Apollyon.” 

You are right, Billy. I am trying to down one 
of the spiritual verities Mother and Had have bred 
into me and it won’t down.” 

And there are dumb-bells who claim that the 
influence of parents doesn’t count. It’s the gyro¬ 
scope which steadies the world kept whirling by 
love.” 

Billy, you are a dear! Never have you given 
an inkling that you suspected-” 

Why should I? For some reason you and Jim 
are putting up a stiff bluff. Why should I ball it 
up? ” 

“I’ll tell you the whole story after election, 
Billy.” 

“ Meanwhile remember that if ever you need help 
I’m standing by. Marble-heart. Now I will break 
225 



HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


the rule of a lifetime and warn one woman against 
another. Look out for Pam. You are the most 
straightforward girl I ever met. You play fair 
with men. You have as much idea of coquetry as 
Sarah Beddle and Pamela is past-mistress in the 
art.^’ 

Thank you for rating my charms with the di¬ 
vine Sarah’s.’^ 

Don’t be snippy! Pve delivered my warning 
with the usual result. If we want lunch I suppose 
I shall have to round it up. Shall I take the dog? ” 
He whistled to the spaniel who after an inquir¬ 
ing look at the girl dashed on ahead. Jaffrey 
turned back. 

Just one word more, Marble-heart. Keep out 
of Dal’s way until you can tell the truth about your 
marriage.” 

He did not wait for the girl to answer. Julie 
watched him out of sight before she dropped to the 
ground. Elbows dug into soft pine-needles, chin 
in hands she considered Jaffrey’s warning. It had 
come about forty-eight hours too late. There had 
been something more than self behind Carfax’s im¬ 
passioned Will you marry me? ” His voice had 
suggested the clink of armor, had held the chival¬ 
rous timbre of a knight’s tilting madly in defense 
of his lady. What could it mean? Did Dal think 
that she was not married? Was that what BiUy 
226 


HERE COME^ THE BUN ! 


had meant by that Permanently How could 
they think that The Trafford would do anything so 
preposterous as to pretend that there had been a 
ceremony? She flushed hotly as she remembered 
that that had been her first flurried suggestion. 

Billy had been a dear to warn her about that 
rumor; it had not been easy for him, she had known 
by his heightened color and the apology in his eyes. 
So the marriage was spoken of as a political move. 
She and Jim had called it an emergency measure. 
Jim- 

The thought of Trafford brought a surge of 
smothering memory. He held her close. His lips 
crushed hers. She could see the flaming triumph 
of his eyes, hear his husky, '' Do you, my Sleeping 
Beauty? 

Would she ever, ever feel cool again? The mem¬ 
ory of his lips on hers turned her blood to fire— 
and it recurred with maddening persistency. What 
had he thought of her silly threat to run away with 
Billy? She had been so furiously angry that she 
had hurled the first words that came to her mind. 

Christian lined up against Apollyon,” Billy had 
said. He was right. The Prince of the City of 
Destruction urged a break of that marriage con¬ 
tract while she repelled him with the thought, 
''Whom God hath joined together-'' 

" But it wasn’t God, it was that miserable 
227 




HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

Clieever,” the girl protested brokenly under her 
breath. 

She gazed unseeingly into the woods. Great 
boulders of granite which broke the serried pha¬ 
lanxes of trees were luxuriantly green with rock 
ferns. An occasional partridge berry which had 
escaped the hungry birds made a ruby spot in the 
rich pattern of moss which carpeted the forest. 
The girl did not move when the noon whistle of the 
mill sounded, when from afar drifted the excited 
yelping of a dog who had treed his quarry. She lay 
so motionless that a portly hedgehog which had 
been watching her backed down from the fork of 
a tree and with quills rustling lumbered into the 
underbrush. A squirrel overhead scolded shrilly. 
A partridge drummed on a hollow log. The girl 
was unconscious of the sounds. 

Jaffrey^s warning, his blunt, ^^Look out for 
Pam! ’’ was rotating in her mind. He had con¬ 
firmed what Pamela herself had brazenly pro¬ 
claimed. Billy need not have been so brutally 
frank about her own lack pf chaimi. He was right, 
though, she had not the remotest idea how to open 
up a flirtation skirmish. She liked men as friends. 
When they abandoned that firm ground and—she 
sprang to her feet. 

You have too much leisure in which to think, 
Julie,” she admonished as she collected wood for a 
228 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


fire. Did you find them, Billy? she called as 
Jaffrey appeared upon the bridge. 

Yes. It was as I suspected. Pamela and Dal 
picked up Jim and Cheever at their respective 
headquarters. She insisted that they would have 
to eat somewhere and promised to drive them back 
immediately after lunch. Jim was ready enough 
to come. He had protested against being at head¬ 
quarters to-day, didn't believe in it, but his backers 
overruled him. Put on more wood. I'll clean the 
trout." 

Why did Pamela have to drag Cheever into the 
party, Julie queried indignantly as she tended the 
fire. If he would only hover about the man-eating 
Parkman, but he didn't. He persisted in dangling 
about herself. Was it a stirring of his comatose 
memory which prompted him? But Willy Small 
had warned: He ain't lost his memory, never for a 
minute." 

Jaffrey from a flat rock near the water looked 
up from the flsh he was cleaning. 

This would be a peacji of a day to shoot the 
rapids but I suppose you are off that sport for the 
rest of your young life. The Trafford-" 

Jim here? " shouted a voice from the trail above 
them. 

It's Captain Phin! Do you suppose that he has 
news of the election? " 


229 


HEBE COMES THE SUN I 


It is too early. Get Mm down here and I’ll stir 
him up to talk. Uneducated as the man is he repre- 
sents Public Opinion in this neighborhood. I’m 
putting him in a story.” 

^^Here we are, Captain Phin!” Julie called 
eagerly. Have you heard who is ahead? ” 

Snow appeared at the top of the bank. His 
glassy eyes were clouded, his tone was worried a^ 
he answered: 

“1^0, about half the district ain’t voted. The 
tellers don’t know just what to make of it down to 
our pollin’ place. Hot a hand from Cheever’s mill’s 
been in yet. It’ll be evenin’ now before we know.” 

Jaffrey indulged in a prolonged whistle. 

“Looks as though Cheever were preparing a 
coup, doesn’t it? ” 

“ Looks as though he was up to some deviltry. 
Where’s Jim? I telephoned headquarters an’ they 
said he’d gone to lunch. There’s an express pack¬ 
age at the of0.ce which they won’t deliver to me 
without written order from him. I fliwed to Brick 
House an’ Sarah Beddle didn’t kno w where he was. 
Said you was lunchin’ here, so I jest rushed through 
the woods thinkin’ I might locate Jim. I know he 
wants thet package to-day.” 

“He is coming here for lunch. Captain Phin. 
Sit down and cool off. Don’t worry. The Trafford 
must win. Here he comes now,” she added as Car- 
230 


HERE GOME^ THE SUN ! 


fax and Clieever, Pamela and Trafford appeared 
on the bridge. The last two lagged behind, the girl 
looking up, the man bending toward her as though 
communicating something of tremendous import. 

Julie caught her breath in an indignant gasp. 
Billy had been right. Pamela Parkman evidently 
had already opened her campaign. Jim seemed to 
like it. As she mixed the ingredients for the dish 
she was preparing her thoughts raced on. It was 
curious and altogether disturbing that not one of 
the four persons approaching could she greet with 
sincere cordiality. Pamela had been unforgivably 
insulting; Carfax seemed bent on ignoring the fact 
of her marriage; she distrusted Cheever; as for Jim 
—she banged the door of her mind against him. 
With unnecessary vigor she broke eggs into a fry¬ 
ing-pan which already held bits of onion, potatoes 
and bacon done to an appetizing brown. 

May I ask the name of that wicked-looking stuff 
you are concocting? ” 

Of course it was Cheever, Cheever smiling in¬ 
gratiatingly from the flat rock Billy had vacated. 
Julie controlled an unholy desire to make a face at 
him. The black spaniel barked at him aggressively. 
The dog obeyed Trafford^s sharp whistle but a growl 
rumbled an accompaniment to his padding paws as 
he ran to his master who was signing a slip of 
paper as he listened to Snow^s whispered communi- 
231 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


cation. Did Sweetie-peach, remember the man in 
the cabin, Julie wondered even as she answered his 
question: 

Slumgullion. Wait until you try it; you^ll 
think it wickeder. Had you better indulge, though? 
It is hardly the diet for an invalid.’^ 

The girTs cheeks were a lovely pink from the 
glow of the sun and the fire. The breeze fluffed 
her hair about her vivid face. Her violet eyes were 
dark with concern as they met Cheever’s which 
smoldered with disconcerting admiration. 

I am not an invalid. I am more fit than I was 
before the accident. The enforced quiet did me 
good.’’ 

^^Has your restored health retrieved the two 
weeks your memory lost, Mr. Cheever? ” 

Were the man’s eyes wriggling beneath their sur¬ 
face boldness or was it her imagination? A slight 
color tinted his yellow pallor. 

Ho. Curious, isn’t it? The doctor tells me not 
to worry, that remembrance will return suddenly. 
Excitement is likely to send it surging back.” He 
stopped to light a cigarette before he joined Carfax 
who sat where he could not see the girl by the fire. 

Julie motioned to Jaffrey to serve the dish she 
had concocted and sank back on her heels. She 
felt limp. Had Cheever unconsciously shown his 
hand? Had she been right in her suspicion that he 
232 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


had timed his return of memory for to-night at 
Shorehaven? Through the laughter and badinage 
about her she felt the strain of suspense though 
no one mentioned the election. The contest which 
centred in the white-spired village below might 
have been raging for the choice of a ruler in a 
South Sea island for all indication either of the 
candidates present gave of being interested. 

Julie became tinglingiy conscious that Trafford 
had dropped to the bank above her. He had not 
spoken to her, apparently had not looked at her, 
but try as she would to ignore him she was irre¬ 
sistibly aware of his every move. Her mind 
shrugged as Pamela Parlonan commanded: 

“ Take my hand, Jim; the moss is slippery. I’ll 
have my lunch with you.” 

Steadied by Tralford’s firm grip she seated her¬ 
self beside him. She smiled an answer to some¬ 
thing he said in a low tone. Her red hat and 
sweater took the color from everything near them. 
Her voice was lazily content as she observed: 

Isn’t this a perfect day! What a wonderful 
night Mrs. Marshall will have for her festivity.” 

Julie roused from her furtively indignant con¬ 
templation of the two on the bank. Her mood was 
reflected in her voice. 

“ I wish that the planets had forbidden her old 
celebration.” 


233 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have 
a thankless niece,” paraphrased Jaffrey. ^^Her 
blare of hospitality is more for you than for the 
successful candidate, Marble-heart. Aunt Martha’s 
first idea-seedling has grown with the rapidity of 
Jack’s beanstalk. The last lusty sprout was to 
order wedding-cake, tons of it, in little white boxes 
with silver initials lovingly intertwined.” 

His tone was light but his eyes met and held 
Julie’s. Was he preparing her, the girl had just 
time to wonder before Trafford repeated sharply: 
Wedding-cake! Who is to be married? ” 

Boy! You and Julie were, weren’t you?” 

Cheever bent to knock his cigarette against his 
shoe. His eyes were hidden as he contributed: 

Has the happy bridegroom so soon forgotten the 
ceremony? ” 

Julie’s heart pounded in her throat. The sar¬ 
casm in the man’s voice confirmed her suspicion 
that he was waiting to spring his trap. She stole a 
glance at Trafford. His face was white, his gray 
eyes flames as he answered: 

No, Cheever. He remembers every word of the 
service which gave him the girl he loved.” There 
was an instant of charged silence before he inquired 
coolly: 

“ What do you think of the day, Captain Phin? ” 

Perched on an overhanging tree-root from which 
234 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


his long overalled legs swayed in unison with the 
moss on the mill-wheel, Snow looked up critically 
at the blue sky and sniffed the air. It’s a weather- 
breeder. You’ll hev to look out fer yer crimps, 
girls; we’ll git a thick fog before night.” 

“A fog!” 

Cheever flung away his cigarette with the ex¬ 
clamation. He made a movement to rise, then 
sank back at Snow’s chuckle. 

What’s the matter, Ben? ’Fraid you won’t get 
them votes of yours in before the sun is shut out, 
or are ye bound ter keep a date with the roamin’ 
Ducliess when the weather’s thick? ” 


235 


CHAPTER XVIII 


Julie caught the look of warning which Trafford 
flashed at the old fisherman. Was she the only one 
who had seen it? Cheever was as usual lighting a 
cigarette, Billy and Carfax were talking with 
Pamela and had missed the chuckled question. 
Evidently Captain Phin was in Jim's confidence. 
Did they suspect that the present senator had an 
ungodly interest in the copper-mine? The girPs 
heart quick-stepped to the tune of excitemeht. It 
looked as though she might become a party to the 
secret this afternoon. This afternoon! Suppose 
there should be a fog? Would Willy expect her? 
She would go whatever the weather. Ought she to 
take Billy with her? She had sworn to herself that 
never again would she jmnp recklessly into a bram¬ 
ble-bush, and her appointment with Small might 
lead into a jungle of them. She would think that 
point out later; at present she must pay attention 
to what her companions were saying. If she ap¬ 
peared distrait Cheever might suspect- 

Why worry! No one was conscious of her. All 
eyes were on Captain Phin who was discoursing. 
Was he garrulous to cover his malapropos question 
or had Billy succeeded in stirring him up? If he 
236 


HERE C0ME8 THE SUN ! 


liad lie would get a trifle more than he expected, 
the girl thought with a smile. A little of the old 
fisherman’s philosophy might open his eyes wider. 
Billy was a dear, but from her father’s point of 
view and her own, he was not standing for what 
he might. They believed that a talent for expres¬ 
sion like his brought grave responsibilities in its 
train. Captain Phin’s gummy voice slid into her 
revery: 

Mark-my-words, Billy Jaffrey, what the world 
needs ain’t a lot of consecrated missionaries; it 
needs rich fellers like you and Dal Carfax an’ 
Pamela—I understand Julie’s folks ain’t got much 
so I don’t count her in—should stand fer the best. 
Per one thing, cut out yer encouragement of rum- 
runnin’. You people who are encouraging boot- 
leggin’ are rangin’ yourselves with the greatest ag¬ 
gregation of crooks, hold-up men, thugs, gamblers, 
thiefs, double-crossers that’s ever been got together. 
They’re the scum and the dregs of the country. 
An’ you’re draggin’ some that might be decent down 

with you, too. I know a feller-” 

Snow broke ofl his sentence to cough. Had Jim 
raised his hand from design or accident? With the 
thought Julie’s eyes flew to Cheever. His face was 
undisturbed and serene. Evidently Captain Phin s 
peroration had not touched his conscience, and she 
had been quite sure of the sort of evidence she 
237 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


would find in the copper-mine this afternoon. Jim; 
had said that he was a master of bluff. The present 
senator’s voice was grave; he might have been ad¬ 
dressing the legislative body as he agreed: 

“ Snow is right. Men like you had better show 
up at the primaries and the polls, work to repeal 
the laws which you don’t like and substitute some¬ 
thing better if you object to what you get.” 

Julie caught the smile in Trafford’s eyes as they 
met the fisherman’s. Carfax’s face was a lively 
crimson, Jaffrey’s flamed but he laughed as he ac¬ 
knowledged : 

“ I get you, Cheever. Captain Phin, I take it 
that ^ God give us successful men with ideals ’ 
would be your slogan? ” 

You’ve said it. Gorry-me, but it takes you 
writer-folks to boil a lot of thoughts into a few 
words, don’t it? ” 

“ It depends upon how much he gets per word 
how much he boils, doesn’t it, Billy? ” demanded 
Carfax and skilfully steered conversation into less 
turbulent waters. Trafford sprang to his feet. 

^^Pam, I hold you to your promise to take me 
back to headquarters. If you and Cheever are go¬ 
ing with us. Dal, you’ll have to come now.” He 
held out his hand to Pamela who clutched it and 
lingeringly struggled to her feet. I shall be at 
Brick House in time for tea this afternoon, Julie. 

238 


HERE COME^ TEE SUN ! 

Plan to be there. I want to talk to you.’^ There 
was a “ no appeal ” glint in the eyes which met the 
girPs. 

It was the first time since his arrival that he had 
directly addressed her. Before she could answer, 
with Pamela beside him he turned into the path 
which led to the old mill. Cheever and Carfax 
nodded au revoir and followed. Captain Phin 
ambled in the direction of Brick House. Julie’s 
eyes followed Trafford as he crossed the bridge. 
He never came home for tea. Why should he make 
an exception to-day of all days when he was sup¬ 
posed to be immersed in politics? Hid he suspect 
that she had a rendezvous with Willy Small? W^y 
should he? She looked at Jafirey. He was staring 
indignantly at the disappearing figures on the 
bridge. 

Well, of all the cool proceedings. Marble-heart. 
They have gone and left you and me to pack the 
basket. Ho they expect us to carry it home? ” 

We won’t, Billy. I will send one of the men 
for it. Have you anything on for this afternoon? ” 
No. Ho you want me to hang round the village 
with you and watch developments ? ” 

No, I want you to go somewhere with me.” 
But Jim wants you at Brick House.” 

«I have another engagement. Won’t you help 
me without asking questions? ” 

239 


HEBE COMEB THE SUN I 

I will. Now and forever. Where will you pick 
me up? ” 

I will call on Aunt Martha. You can he in the 
hall and Vll say, going on an errand. Do 
you want to come, Billy?’ And you will say, 
‘ Sure, Marble-heart.’ Will you? ” 

Sure, Marble-heart.” 

At half after three, dressed in the heliotrope 
frock she had worn on her arrival in Clearwater, 
its frills at neck and wrists as crisp as fresh or¬ 
gandie and Martha Marshall’s maid could make 
them, Julie tucked a slicker and sou’wester be¬ 
neath the seat of the sedan. Captain Phin had 
prophesied a fog and she would not risk being 
obliged to abandon her expedition because of the 
weather. As an additional plank in her platform 
of preparedness she slipj)ed a ball of stout twine 
and a flash-light into one of the pockets of the car. 
On the floor she deposited a bulky bundle which 
contained the reddest, rawest, juiciest bone the vil¬ 
lage had offered. As she manoeuvered the machine 
noiselessly from the garage, hoping to escape the 
observation of Sarah Beddle, the woman’s voice, 
shrill with anxiety, hailed her. 

Got any returns from the election, M’s. Jim? ” 
Nothing definite yet.” 

'' Better not go far. There’s a fog rollin’ in.” 

It won’t catch me before I get to Shorehaven.” 

240 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


Perhaps you’ll hear how things are going there. 
Take this fer M’s. Trafford, will you? Someone 
from the mill left it. It’s about the Girls’ Club, I 
guess.” Sarah ran down the steps and handed 
Julie a note. She looked toward the sea and shook 
her head. It’s cornin’ in thick. I don’t think 
much of your going even that far.” 

“ I’m not afraid of a fog. I almost forgot—The 
Trafford will be here for tea, Sarah. Set the table 

by the fire in his study and have-” 

Ain’t you going to be here to pour it? Sup¬ 
pose, jest suppose Jim don’t win and you ain’t here 
when he comes? I never Imew a Trafford wife yet 
who wasn’t always to home-” 

Julie stepped on the accelerator. As the roadster 
shot forward she turned and waved her hand. Dis¬ 
approval shadowed the housekeeper’s thin face. As 
she craned forward to watch the car her long neck 
seemed to lengthen like that of Alice in Wonder¬ 
land. The girl increased speed. It would not be 
out of character for Sarah to try to stop her, so 
much and so heavily did the responsibility of the 
Trafford family rest on the shoulders of her New 
England conscience. 

Julie lingered on the steps at Shorehaven to look 
off to sea where a slight haze hung. The breeze 
which blew from the water was damp and cold. 
There was the taste of salt on her Ups. Fog or no 
241 




HERE COMEE THE EUN! 


fog slie should keep her appointment with Small, 
she decided as she opened the door. She hoped that 
Billy would be ready. Every moment counted. 

Short stories here, Julie,’’ she reminded herself 
as she entered the hall. Its warmth and color were 
a stimulating contrast to the gray world outside. 
The brass gates of the fireplace were thrown back 
to give an unobstructed view of the blazing logs. 
There were flowers everywhere. From behind the 
closed doors of the dining-room came the tinkle of 
silver and the click of china. Weird shapes in black 
shrouds filled the minstrel gallery. Everywhere 
was the bustle and evidence of preparation. The 
bottom seemed to drop from the girl’s heart. Had 
Billy been right? Was this festivity of Managing 
Martha’s primarily to celebrate her niece’s mock- 
marriage? She crushed back the apprehensions 
which crowded in the train of the question. She 
must not think of that now. 

Mrs. Trafford in a leaf-green frock was curled up 
in one corner of the mammoth couch. Mrs. Mar¬ 
shall, grande dame from her beautifully coiffed 
white hair to the jet buckles on her satin slippers, 
smiled at the girl from behind the tea-table. Anne 
Trafford sprang to her feet. 

“You, honey-girl? Any news of the election?” 
Julie shook her head. “ I suppose that it is too 
early for results. Is it possible that the divine 
242 


HERE COMEB TEE SUE ! 


Sarah allowed you to venture out this foggy after¬ 
noon when you had a party on for to-night? ” 

Julie smiled in sympathy with the laughing voice. 

“ I had a suspicion that she contemplated locking 
me in my room so I bolted. No tea, thank you, 
Aunt Martha. I am on my way to do an errand.” 
This was Billyhs cue; where was he? ‘‘1 stopped 
to leave this note which came from the mill for you, 
Mrs. Trafford.” 

Thank you, Julie. Why not drop that Mrs., 
dear? You might call me Mother Anne—or-” 

No, oh no! ” Julie attempted to wipe out her 
vehemence. It—^it sounds too old for you 

and-” Her inventive faculty was conserved by 

Martha MarshalFs intervention. 

Don^t get tired, Julie. I want you to look your 
best to-night. This reception is partly to introduce 
the Trafford bride to the county.” 

Julie had a sensation as of walls closing in upon 
her, as though she must smash her way out of this 
wildly impossible situation. Why— why, when 
both these women knew the truth did they persist 
in ignoring the facts of her marriage? Exaspera¬ 
tion tinged the voice in which she inquired: 

Won't your party fall flat if the groom is de¬ 
feated? ” 

“ Why should it? Jim is a good loser, is he not? 
If the voters elect Cheever they will be given an 
243 



EEEE COMES TEE SUN ! 


opportunity to-night to congratulate him. They 
canT justly accuse me of showing favoritism. That 
note you gave Anne reminds me, Julie, that one was 
left here for you. It is extremely soiled and smells 
to heaven of cheap tobacco. It is doubtless from 
one of your fishy admirers who has had that flashy 
stationery stored with his savings since the dark 
ages. If you insist upon being democratic in your 
choice of friends please request your correspond¬ 
ents to sterilize their communications.’^ In the tips 
of her patrician fingers she extended a brilliant 
pink envelope of the type and color which is peren¬ 
nially bunched on the bargain-counter. Julie 
studied the address. 

It must be from Captain Phin. He asked me 
to buy some records for him the next time I went 
to the village. My last classical purchase was 
^ Toot! Toot! Toots, good-bye ’! ” She whistled a 
bar of the popular air. 

Her eyes shone with laughter as she opened the 
envelope. The corners of her vivid lips curved in a I 
smile. She felt them stiffen in consternation as she! 
read: S 

Fer the love of Mike, don’t come to the minel 

ter-day.” 1 

There was no signature but through the paper ■ 
beneath the scrawled message was thrust a barbed! 

porcupine quill. a 


244 


CHAPTEE XIX 

Fer tKe love of Mike, don’t come ter the mine 
ter-day.” 

It seemed to Julie that she had been staring down 
at the words for hours when her aunt picked up the 
thread of conversation where she had dropped it 
to present the note. 

'' Stay here and dress, Julie. I will send Car- 
lotta for your clothes and well ’phone Jim- 

No, oh no! ’’ 

That protest of hers was in danger of becoming 
chronic, Julie thought, even as she determined to 
ignore Small’s message and keep on to the mine. 
Something exceptionally queer must be on the tapis 
or he wouldn’t have tried to head her off. Was 
Cheever’s concern about the fog tied up with Willy’s 
warning? Her pulses raced. She wouldn’t tell 
Billy of the note. He would refuse to go with her; 
he certainly would block her going if he knew of it. 
He was coming, singing his one song. The ap¬ 
proaching sounds reminded her of Wagner’s method 
of preceding the entrance of the characters in his 
operas by his or her own orchestral motif. 

To-re-a-dor! To-re-a-dor! For thee a fond 
heart waits, for th-e-e-e a f-fond ha-ha-heart ” 
245 




HERE COME^ THE EUN I 


Jaffrey ended with a trill which would have 
smashed any self-respecting disc which tried to re¬ 
cord it. As he reached the foot of the stairs he 
raised his brows in an inquiring arch and at the 
girl’s imperceptible nod approached the group near 
the fire. 

My usual luck! You are arriving just as I am 
departing, Marble-heart.” 

I am going too, Billy. May I give you a lift? ” 

Sure.” 

“ Then get your oilskins and join me at the car.” 
As Jaffrey hummed his way toward the coat-room 
she added: I will report for duty early this 
evening, Aunt Martha. I’ll see you all later. I 
must run along or Billy will scold.” 

Jaffrey was waiting when Julie reached the 
sedan. He took his seat beside her in silence. As 
she eased in the clutch and the car slid from the 
drive into the highway which led to Blue Heron 
Cove he leaned forward to clear the windshield 
of mist and suggested: 

How that you have me snugly corralled perhaps 
you’ll explain the reason of this mysterious expe¬ 
dition. Is it to work off steam while you await 
returns? ” 

HOy but it is indirectly connected with the elec¬ 
tion. I am on the trail of evidence against Chee- 
ver. It will be too late to use it this year, but it 
246 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


will keep. K you can^t concoct a best-seller from 
the facts I am about to relate, plus your hectic im¬ 
agination, you had better be psycho-analyzed to 
find your metier. Last Saturday-” 

The fog thickened as she related the story of her 
trip to Blue Heron Cove and the events which fol¬ 
lowed. The regular throb of the engine had an 
uncanny sound in the curious stillness of the at¬ 
mosphere. The tinkle of a cow^s bell came weirdly 
through blank, impenetrable gray walls behind 
them. Jaffrey sat motionless, his sharp-shooter 
green eyes contracted to steel points. He turned 
to her as she concluded. 

Can you find the spot where you helped the 
dog? 

Yes. It was near a flaming sumach. The open¬ 
ing in the ground is in a straight line with that. 
I brought a ball of twine so that if Willy Small 
didn^t materialize we could find the place our¬ 
selves.” 

“Clever kid. The gods be thanked that you 
thought of bringing me along. It would have been 
so like you to go it alone,” Jaffrey observed dryly. 
“ Of course Small will meet us. Why shouldn't 
he?” 

Juliets conscience administered an admonishing 
pinch but she let his remark pass without com¬ 
ment. Even if Small did not expect her he might 
247 



HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! 


be in bis dugout and they could find bim. They 
might find someone with him. Her imagination 
reeled with excitement. She had left home craving 
adventure, anything different from her round of 
duties; it looked as though she would get it, good 
measure and running over. She had made a fairly 
brilliant start with the affair in the cabin. Her 
brows creased. If only Aunt Martha had not staged 
that ridiculous wedding reception for to-night. It 
was so like her to plan it without asking Jim or 
herself if they would like it. 

Darn! ” she muttered between clenched teeth. 

Y ou use that wicked expletive only under stress 
of great emotion, Marble-heart. Whaffs wrong? ” 

I was thinking of that silly party to-night.’’ 

'' One thing at a time. You had much better 
concentrate on the crazy proposition upon which 
we’ve embarked. Holy smoke, isn’t this fog thick! ” 
Julie closed her eyes for an instant to rest them 
from the strain of peering into the mist. 'When 
she opened them she could see the path which zig¬ 
zagged across the field which topped the cliff. She 
ran close to a mammoth pine and shut off the en¬ 
gine. She put on her slicker, stuffed her soft hat 
into the pocket and pulled a sou’wester low over 
her fair hair. 

I’m ready. Take the flash-light, Billy. I have 
the twine.” 


248 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


Do you want the bone? ” 

“ N-no, we’ll leave it in the car till we meet 
Willy. He can come here for it.” 

Drip! Drip! Drip! Mist transformed into 
water dropped from the tree branches to the hood 
of the sedan and rolled off. Drop chased drop down 
the girl’s slicker as she and Jaffrey crossed the 
field. The fog dripped from their sou’westers, it 
beaded their eyelashes, it playfully cavorted down 
their noses. Except for the oily lash of the waves 
against the cliff the world was intensely still. Sud¬ 
denly out of the mist ahead two weird shapes shot 
into the air. Ghoulish wings flapping, long legs 
trailing, they vanished as though conjured out of 
sight by some sorcerer of the skies. Julie caught 
Jaffrey’s arm. 

Only the blue herons. Why the dickens am I 
whispering? ” he added with a joviality slightly 
overdone. Shsh! Listen! ” 

The girl held her breath. Was it imagination or 
did she hear water slapping against the side of a 
boat? Whatever the explanation of the sound Billy 
had heard it too. He gripped her hand and to¬ 
gether they proceeded cautiously. 

Go easy! Look out for holes! Are we near the 
sumach? ” 

Julie nodded. It was not difficult to locate the 
flaming bush. Its crimson leaves and blossoms 
249 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

were jeweled with, a million tiny beads of mois¬ 
ture. 

Is this the place? Whereas Small? Jaffrey 
demanded in a sharp whisper. The girl shook her 
head. Why tell Billy now that she had not ex¬ 
pected to find the man? Her heart leaped to her 
throat as from the shore a hollow voice floated 
through a gray wmll of mist. 

I sha^n’t wait for Campbell. Tell Jones to pick 
up Old Man Grindle and stand by till the others 
come! 

Jaffrey crushed the hand he held in a warning 
grip, and pulled the girl down behind the berry- 
bushes. There was the click of an oar in a row- 
lock, then only the sound of the sea. Julie won¬ 
dered if her heart intended to park permanently in 
her throat. She could feel it pounding there. She 
and Jaflrey raised cautious heads and peered to¬ 
ward shore. What was that unearthly light? Did 
she really see it or had her unconscious mind flung 
to the surface that absurd story of the roaming 
Duchess who searched for her sapphires? She im¬ 
patiently brushed the moisture from her lashes and 
looked again. Her imagination had not tricked 
her. The light was there. A pale flame-colored 
mist floated half-way up the cliff beneath which 
she and the others had lunched that never-to-be- 
forgotten day when Jim Trafford had announced 
250 


HERE COMEE THE SUN ! 

the marriage. She put her lips close to Jaffrey’s 
ear. 

“ Do you see it too, Billy? 

He nodded. 

Pirates? Smugglers? B-bootleggers? 

The whispered words jostled one another for ex¬ 
pression. Julie understood now why Small had 
sent the warning. He had said that he was acting 
as caretaker for a man. Evidently he had received 
word that the boats were coming. Cheever had 
known that they would come if the day turned 
foggy. How much did Jim Trafford suspect? She 
remembered the warning hand which had checked 
Captain Phin. 

‘‘They^ve gone! Give me that twine! Quick! 
Ill locate the trap-door,” whispered Jaffrey 
hoarsely. 

Hardly daring to breathe for fear some move¬ 
ment might betray them Julie produced the ball. 
Jaffrey knotted one end securely to the flaming 
sumach. The girPs slicker brushed against a bush. 
That mustn’t happen again! She pulled it off and 
dropped it on the ground. Jaffrey discarded his 
and side by side they crouched forward, paying out 
the string as they went. 

As though in league with the two investigators 
the fog closed in densely. Globules of moisture 
dripped from their sou’westers. The girl’s erst- 
251 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

wMle crisp frills were damp rags. From feet to 
knees slie was wet to the skin but she was quite 
unconscious of physical discomfort. Her eyes were 
dark with eagerness, her vivid lips tense with de¬ 
termination as on hands and knees she felt her 
way along. 

“It ought to be about-” Julie interrupted 

her strained whisper with an exclamation of pain 
as she clutched one knee. What had she struck? 
She groped in the grass, now a bilious yellow in 
the fog. She gripped an iron ring. 

JafPrey seized it. With an impatient hand he 
waved her away. She hitched back on her sound 
knee. She watched breathlessly as he tugged at the 
ring. The door flew up with an ease which tumbled 
him backward. It proved to be an iron grating 
overlaid with sod. Evidently it was one of the 
protections against a shaft opening which the pres¬ 
ent owner of the mine had had placed there. The 
thing must be on springs to open so easily. 

Jaflrey laid his finger on his lips and beckoned. 
Julie crept toward him where he lay flat on the 
ground, peering down into the opening. She bent 
her head close to his. The air which came up to 
her was fresh and sweet with a tang of kelp. Prom 
the darkness came the monotonous drip of water. 

“The tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of 
the Eings,” chuckled Jaffrey. There was an in- 
252 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


fectious thrill in Ms whisper. Julie shivered from 
excitement. She surreptitiously caught his arm 
as he flashed Ms light. She could discern a short 
flight of steps which descended into a rock-walled 
space perhaps ten feet square. The floor was cov¬ 
ered with white sand. There was a pile of dry kelp 
in one corner. Jaffrey snapped off the light. 

I’m going down. I sense untold splendor.” 

I’ll go with you.” 

^Tot on your life! You stay above ground. If 
you hear or see anything put your head down and 
wMstle, whistle like the deuce.” 

‘‘ But you may get lost.” 

I couldn’t if I tried. Didn’t you see Small 
vanish into the cliff and emerge here? This open¬ 
ing must connect with one of the tunnels in the 
copper-mine. Those all open out on the cliff. 
There is no danger. The boats have gone-” 

Then why are you whispering? ” Julie laughed 
as her spirits suddenly ballooned. 

From abundance of precaution. Hold the light, 
^^"ow I’ll take it.” She bent over the hole and 
watched his descent. All right! ” 

The sepulchral whisper chilled her blood. She 
sat back on her heels with a shiver and looked about 
her. Eocks and shrubs and trees were shadows ii^ 
the mist. The yawning hole drew her. She should 
have insisted upon going down with Billy. She 
253 


HEBE COMEE THE EUN ! 


would have been perfectly safe with him. It was 
her personally conducted expedition, why should 
she be denied any of the thrills of it simply because 
she was a girl? What was that? She tilted her 
head and listened. The sound of soft drumming, a 
far faint humming trickled through the mist above 
her. 

An airplane! Had that hollow voice from the 
shore referred to this arrival when it had an¬ 
nounced that it would not wait for Campbell? 

‘ The Campbells are coming, heigho, heigho,’ ” 
the girl whistled softly under her breath. Her lips 
widened in a laugh as she threw back her head to 
look upward in the direction of the sound. She 
saw a shadowy biplane circling far above her as 
though looking for a place to land. It shot up and 
out of sight. Then, it seemed but an instant, before 
she saw a great gray mass hurtling down upon her. 


254 


CHAPTER XX 


Jim Trafford looked down at tke perfectly ap¬ 
pointed table before tbe fire in the study at Brick 
House. The fat silver water kettle faithfully and 
shiningly reflected each tiniest spurt of flame. The 
Canton cups and saucers of his grandmother^s day 
neutralized the modernity of the mushroom sand¬ 
wiches which Sarah Beddle knew he particularly 
liked. The feast was set but where was Julie? The 
old clock caught its breath and boomed: 

One! Two! Three! Four! Five! ” 

Trafford crossed to the French window. Seen 
through the fog the gravel path which led straight 
to the shore was nothing more than a blurred out¬ 
line. He returned to the hearth and pulled the 
old-fashioned tasseled bell-rope. Sarah Beddle an¬ 
swered. She gave the impression of having been 
waiting outside the door in anticipation of the sum¬ 
mons. She was charged to the lips with indigna¬ 
tion. Her small eyes flashed. Her prominent 
cheek-bones had the appearance of having been 
heavily dabbed with rouge. Traflord recognized 
the symptoms. He had seen them often enough in 
the era of his predatory attacks upon the cookie- 
jar, in those care-free days when he was the heir- 
apparent and his grandfather was king. 

255 


EERE COME& THE SUN ! 

Do you want your tea, Mr. Jim? 

Not until Julie comes.’^ 

The housekeeper pursed her lips into a mass of 
fine lines. 

'' I guess if you want it you'd better take it now. 
She drove off an hour 'n' a half ago. She told me 
you were cornin' at five and when I asked wasn't she 
going to be here she just laughed and waved her 
hand and drove away. I don't know what the 
world's cornin' to. Women didn't treat their hus¬ 
bands that way in your grandmother's and moth¬ 
er's time. But it's all of a new-fangled piece with 
you livin' in one side of the house and her in the 
other. I- 

Sarah! ” thundered Trafford. The woman 
flushed an unbecom^g beet-color and busied her¬ 
self among the tea-things. The voice in which she 
offered information was chastened: 

She said she was goin' to Shorehaven. I give 
her a note one of the mill girls left here for your 
mother. Do they know yet who's been elected sena¬ 
tor? They don't;? Now do sit down and rest while 
you drink your tea. It's just as you like it and 
here are some of those mushroom sandwiches you're 
so set on." 

He took the cup she offered. ‘‘Thank you, 
Sarah. I won't sit down. I want to find Julie. 

Did she say-" he absent-mindedly punctuated 

256 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


the sentence with a swallow of tea. It left the im¬ 
pression that his mouth had been thoroughly and 
painfully skinned. Good Lord, why didn^t you 
tell me this was hot? ” 

Did you ever know tea to be cold in this house 
unless ’twas iced tea? That’s one thing I’ll say fer 
M’s. Jim Trafford. She knows more how things 
had ought to be done than any girl I ever saw. 
That comes from bein’ a poor minister’s daughter, 
I suppose, though most girls with an aunt as rich 
as hers would have set back an’ let her pay fer a 

hired girl. Julie’s been doing all our buyin’- 

That reminds me, a boy came just^ after she left 
this afternoon with a note for her. ’Twas Pete 
Sparks, one of those shiftless Sparks kids, who 
when he ain’t delivering goods from the store is 
forever fishin’ with Willy Small an’ that white dog 
of his-” 

Where is the note? ” 

The housekeeper snapped her eyes in her en¬ 
deavor to pick up the thread of monologue Traf- 
ford had broken with his abrupt question. 

The note—^the note—certain, certain, here it 
is.” She produced a bright pink envelope from 
behind a bowl of cosmos on the table. Kinder 
pretty paper, isn’t it? I love bright colors.” 

Trafford studied the illiterately scribbled name 
which had the appearance of being about to head 
257 




HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


hurriedly for the right-hand upper corner of the 
gay envelope. 

MKS. JIM TEAFFOKD 
Important 

The creases between his eyes deepened as he con¬ 
sidered the triple underscoring. 

Did Pete suggest that he wait for an answer? ” 

^^No. He just left it and run. You wouldn’t 
expect one of those shiftless Sparks-” 

“ I am going to Shorehaven. I’ll take the note. 
I have arranged with Captain Phin to take you to 
the party to-night, Sarah.” 

'' Thank you. I hope he’ll come early so I’ll get 
there in time to see the folks come in. I guess all 
the village is turning out.” 

^^I’ll bet it is,” Trafford supplemented to him¬ 
self as he entered the garage. What marplot from 
the region of misfits had prompted Mrs. Marshall to 
plan the reception? If only it had occurred to her 
to consult his or Julie’s wishes. Julie! Where 
was she? His mother’s sedan which the girl had 
driven since she came to Brick House was not in its 
place. Of course she had gone to Shorehaven, he 
assured himself as he turned his roadster into the 
highway. 

He drove slowly, his eyes strained to see through 
258 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


the mist, his ears strained to hear. If Julie were 
at Shorehaven—^if—of course she was there. He 
beat back the threat which persisted in singsonging 
through his mind. ^^If you do I shall run away 
with Billy! The words had tormented him since 
Saturday. He had not seen Julie until the lunch¬ 
eon on the shore and then he, like an idiot, had 
tried to make her jealous by devoting himself to 
Pamela. 

His attempt had been a dismal failure. The 
delicate art of flirtation was as much out of his 
line as it was out of Juliets. He doubted if she had 
known he was talking with Pamela. Cheever had 
absorbed her attention when Jaffrey hadn^t. Lately 
when the two had been together Ben had neglected 
Pamela to devote himself to Julie. What did he 

mean by it? Would he dare- There was a 

guttural sound in Trafford^s throat. Two sparks 
like indicators which warn that the electric current 
is on glowed suddenly in his eyes. His thoughts 
flashed back to Julie. She had ignored his request 
that she be at Brick House for tea. He had left 
headquarters, first, because he had something to 
give her, second because he refused to longer stand 
about like a watch-dog. If the voters wanted him 
they would elect him. Was Cheever trailing him? 
His opponent had slipped away in his red car when 
he had left the village. 


259 



HERE V0ME8 THE SUN ! 


He had intended this afternoon to demand the 
truth about Billy Jaffrey from Julie. Did she love 
him? He had not decided what he would say to 
her if he found that she did—^but he intended to 
know the truth. 

He tried to relax his tense muscles. Of course 
he would find Julie at Shorehaven. There were 
nine fat chances to one lean one that Mrs. Marshall 
would not permit her to return in the fog to Brick 
House to dress for the reception. 

Permit. Trafford’s stern lips softened. Julie 
appeared not to Imow the meaning of the word in 
connection with her aunt. Curious that the woman 
should arouse such opposition in the girl. Was it? 
She had much the same effect upon him. He 
admired her keen grasp of business detail, she was 
generous, perhaps a little mad on the subject of 
astrology but most persons had a pet obsession 
these days, many Coued or crystal-gazed where she 
horoscoped, but she irritated him. He had thought 
that she disliked him. He had been more amazed 
than Julie when he had discovered that her attitude 
had been a part of her plan to bring her niece and 
him together. In spite of his aversion he realized 
that she was a loyal friend. His mother loved 
her. 

His mother. He had forgotten for the moment 
that she was at Shorehaven. She would protest 
260 


HEKE VOMEB THE SUN ! 


against the girl driving in the fog. She never 
antagonized. She was a wonder and he adored 
her. Julie had attracted him first because in a 
subtle way she had reminded him of his mother. 
It was her expression. A girl might or might 
not be born with beauty of feature but beauty 
of expression was acquired. They had both lived 
for others. Was it that which gave the sense of 
resemblance? Even the boys in the village had 
begun to be shyly friendly with Julie. 

The thought circuited to the pink note in his 
pocket. A boy had brought that, a boy who was 

forever fishin’ with Willy Small.” Was Small 
trying to frighten Julie with the fact that he had 
seen her in the cabin? He had feared it and had 
instructed the men on the Brick House estate not 
to allow Willy on the grounds. He was powerless 
to protect the girl outside except by forbidding her 
to allow the man to speak to her. 

Julie was not in the hall at Shorehaven when he 
entered, neither was Jaffrey. Anne Trafford, her 
hostess and Pamela Parlonan were sitting indo¬ 
lently about the fire as though conserving energy to 
expend on the evening festivity. Dal Carfax who 
was reading near a lamp waved a long cigarette- 
holder in greeting. As Trafford entered the women 
sprang to their feet and chorused: 

Have you heard? ” 


261 


EEEE COMES TEE SUN ! 

He laughed as lie put his arm about his mother^s 
shoulders. 

^^i^^ot yet. Cheever is holding back his votes. 
Preparing for a grand slam, I suspect. Where is 
Julie? Sarah said that she came here.’^ 

She left before four o’clock. 

Did she go alone, Mother? ” 

Billy went with her. Someone sent a note here 
for her and-” 

What kind of a note? 

A brilliant pink.” 

Did she open it? ” 

Yes. I thought she seemed a bit startled at its 
contents.” 

Has Jaffrey come back? ” 

He may have stayed for tea at Brick 
House to be on hand to congratulate you if-” 

Trafford’s white teeth flashed in a laugh as he 
echoed : 

“ If! Say ^ when.’ ” 

Pamela linked a shapely bare arm in his. Her 
eyes implored from between heavy lashes. Her 
flame-color frock absorbed the light from the 
fire. 

Stay here and we’ll play Mah Jong to quiet 
our nerves for the evening festivities. I’m worn 
to a frazzle with the stir and bustle of preparation. 
Why do people have parties! You can send home 
262 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

for your clotlies. You can’t plead that old mill as 
an excuse at this time of day.” 

Trafford made a pretense of searching for his 
pipe. It freed his arm. There was a quizzical 
smile in his gray eyes as they met hers. 

Sorry, Pam, but I must go. In spite of your 
efforts for Cheever I have a hunch that the next 
time I see you I shall be senator elect from this 
district.” 

Carfax laid down his book and approached the 
group by the fire. Ben has a hunch that he will. 
Each time he has won before it has been by finding 
a weak joint in his opponent’s character.” The 
words were tonally underscored. If he wins you 
had better try his tactics next year.” 

Trafford ignored the implication. If he wins 
I’ll try again, still without mud-slinging. I know 
at least five men like you. Dal, with plenty of 
brains, plenty of money, who could help enormously 
by going into politics. They won’t do it. They 
won’t subject themselves to the vilification which 
goes with a campaign. Perhaps if I demonstrate 
that it can be done without degrading personali¬ 
ties I may drum up recruits.” 

Even as he talked his mother’s words, «She 
seemed a little startled at its contents,” revolved in 
his mind. The note left at Shorehaven for Julie 
had been a brilliant pink. The note in his pocket 
263 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


must be a duplicate. If Willy Small had written 
both he must be desperately eager to reach the girl. 
Had he sent for her? The pressure on his heart 
lightened. At least she had not run away with 
Billy. He would open that note outside. If she 
had gone to meet Willy Small it would be wise to 
take someone with him when he followed her. He 
decided on the instant. He met Carfax’s eyes and 
held them. 

I want to talk with you, Hal. Come out to the 
car.” 

“ I’ll get my coat.” As Carfax started for the 
door Traiford called peremptorily: 

Hustle!” 

His voice was strained. His mother’s hand 
tightened on his arm. As her son’s eyes met hers 
she gave it a tender pat and turned away. Martha 
Marshall left the throne-like chair which she af¬ 
fected. There was apprehension in her voice as she 
commanded: 

“Find Julie before you do anything else, Jim. 
Under the afdiction of Mercury by Luna and Nep¬ 
tune this day, she may be subject to subtle attacks 
and fraud. Of course with her alert and ready 
mind-” 

Her prophetic tone clanged an alarm. Trafford 
interrupted with an inarticulate protest and bolted. 
He was furious that her words had power to 
264 



HERE GOMES THE SUN ! 


frigMen him. When he reached the roadster Car- 
fax was waiting. His eyes were wary, his lips set 
obstinately. Without explanation Trafford tore 
open the pink envelope. His brows contracted, his 
face whitened as he read the contents. 

Fer the love of Mike, don^t come to the mine 
ter-day.’’ There was no signature but through the 
paper was thrust a barbed porcupine quill. 

Julie had had an appointment to meet Small at 
the mine. He had warned her not to come. Had 
the note she received at Shorehaven contained the 
same message? What could it mean? Was the man 
attempting blaclmiail? Could she find her way 
there in this fog? Fog! Good Lord, this was the 
sort of day—^with a sharp exclamation he thrust 
the pink envelope into his pocket and jumped into 
the roadster. 

'' Get in. Dal, quick! ” He started the car before 
Carfax had dragged in his long legs. 

WhaFs the rush, Jim? ” 

I am anxious about Julie. I suspect that she 
has gone to Blue Heron Cove.’’ 

''My word, is that all? Why worry! Billy is 
with her. I’ll bet a dozen golf balls that they have 
gone to the village for first-hand news of the elec¬ 
tion. Julie will go anywhere with him.” His 
tone was deliberately casual as he added, “ I have 
a hint from rather good authority that after to- 
265 


HERE COMES TEE SUN ! 

day she will be free to go her own way all the 
time.’^ 

Trafford^s jaw set like steel as he allowed Car¬ 
faxes deliberate statement to pass unanswered. His 
motor-horn sounded hollowly in the still air as he 
bent forward to peer through the mist. His 
thoughts were in a turmoil. What had Hal meant? 
Had Julie told him that after the election the mar¬ 
riage was to be annulled? She would not do that, 
he was sure that she would not. Had Cheever be¬ 
gun to talk? Had his memory conveniently re¬ 
turned? Well, his enemy’s conniving couldn’t 
alter the fact that Julie was his, that he knew how 
to keep and protect his own. The thought lightened 
his voice as he replied to his companion’s implica¬ 
tion: 

It is dangerous to believe all you hear, Carfax. 
Hid you ever see a thicker fog? ” 

I suppose you know where you are going? ” 
There was a biding-my-time tinge to Carfax’s voice 
which twisted the corners of Trafford’s lips. 

I do. I’m going to the copper-mine.” 

To the copper-mine? You said that Julie had 
gone to the Cove. What the dickens would she be 
doing at the mine in this fog? ” 

That is what I intend to find out. The thought 
frightens you too, I see. I don’t Imow why she 

came but I suspect that Cheever-” 

266 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


CKeever! 

Wliat’s that? ” Trafford cut out his engine and 
(listened. The two men sat like basilisks. Through 
[the mist ahead of them drifted back the throb of a 
I motor. Carfax unconsciously lowered his voice: 
j “ It is a car. It can^t be Julie. It isn^t coming 
I this way. It^s running ahead of us. My word, you 
; could chop hunks from this fog, it’s so thick. What 
are you going to do now? ” he demanded as Traf¬ 
ford drove into a field, shut off his engine and 
pulled two flash-lights from the pocket of the road¬ 
ster. 

Take one of these. Dal. Fortunately I carry 
them to illumine sign-posts at night. We’ll cover 
this field till we find some trace of Julie or are 
satisfied that she has not been here. That note you 
saw me read warned her not to come to the mine 
this afternoon. You know Julie. Had she a reason 
for coming she would come in the face of ten warn¬ 
ings.” 

She would. But Billy is with her.” 

“ I hope that he is but—^it would be so like her 
to go it alone. I can’t see more than three feet 
beyond my nose. Follow the line of shrubs on the 
left. I’ll go to the right. If you find any trace of 
her or the sedan, shout. If you don’t, we are bound 
to meet near the middle of the cliff. Keep close to 
the bushes. I have had the shaft openings in the 
267 



HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


field covered but I don’t know what has been going 
on here of late. Move quietly. Let’s go! ” 

Trafford cautiously skirted the field. He knew 
when he approached the promontory by the sound 
of water lapping the beach and the seaward swish 
of pebbles. He strained his ears for Carfax’s call 
but no human sound broke the uncanny stillness. 
He must have reached the middle of the cliff, he 
decided. Should he wait for Dal to join him or 
keep on till they met? His foot struck something 
soft. He dropped to his knees. It was a slicker. 
Under it lay another oilskin with a soft violet hat 
crushed into the pocket. 

Julie’s! The other coat must be Jaffrey’s. He 
was with her. Thank God! What had happened 
to them? Had they fallen over the cliff in the fogf 
Had they been pushed over? 

IVhat have you found, Jim? ” 

Carfax dropped to the ground beside Trafford. 

Julie’s slicker. This must be Billy’s. 

They- Good Lord, what is this? ” 

He picked up the twine. Running with Carfax 
at his heels he followed its lead down the field. 
Twenty yards from the sumach bush they halted 
abruptly. They stared ahead at the mass which 
resembled nothing so much as a great prehistoric 
bird. Its bill had dug into the earth, its wings were 
crumpled, its ruptured belly had sprayed every- 
268 



HEEE G0ME8 THE SUN ! 

thing within radius with gasolene. Trafford’s face 
was ghastly as he looked from the twine in his 
hand to the spot where it disappeared under the 
biplane. 

Good God, Dal! Can she—can Julie be under 
that?” 

With one accord the two men furiously attacked 
the wreckage. 


269 


CHAPTEE XXI 


Foe one stunned instant as slie looked up at tke 
unwieldy shape crashing down upon her Julie was 
too frightened to move. Then she gripped the ring 
on the inside of the trap-door and drew it down as 
she swung to the steps which led underground. 
She slammed it shut and slid down the iron ladder. 
She clung to it and waited. Had she been dream¬ 
ing or had she really seen that monstrous thing 
shooting straight for her? A crash above answered 
her question. She was awake. The force of the 
impact sent a portion of the dirt and rock wall 
crumbling to the sanded floor. 

The girl felt as though her breath had been per¬ 
manently suspended. Was she trapped in this 
hole? If she were she was not alone. Billy must 
be about somewhere. Had the pilot of the wrecked 
plane been killed? She listened. Except for the 
drip of water and the trip-hammer of her heart she 
could hear nothing. Billy had told her to whistle 
if anyone came but how could she whistle when 
she couldn’t steady her lips? 

She gripped the iron ladder. What should she 
do next? That was the identical question she had 
asked Jim Trafford after Cheever had left them in 
270 


HERE GOME^ THE SUN I 


the cabin, she remembered. If only he were with 
her, if only his steadying arm were about her shoul¬ 
ders as it had been that night in the storm! She 
blinked her lashes furiously as she assured herself 
that she was not in the least frightened; it was 
merely what Billy had always ridiculed as her 

congenital distrust ” of the dark, plus the black¬ 
ness of the hole into which she had plunged, plus 
that weird trickle of water. Plus—^what was it? 

The sound came from somewhere behind her. It 
was fainter than the drip-drip-drip, less measured, 
more hmnan. Human, that was it. It was like a 
person breathing. 

Steady, Goldilocks, steady,” she admonished 
herself in a mental intonation as much like Traf- 
ford’s as she could manage. Youdl pull out of 
this mess if you keep your head. You know that 
you will. Didn’t you get through those rapids 
safely?” After all, perhaps it was only Billy 
waiting for her to speak. The thought quieted her 
heart. She leaned a little forward as she whispered 
softly: 

''Billy! Billy!” 

There was no answer save her own. voice rico- 
chetted back to her in elfin fragments. 

She pressed her hand over her heart to still its 
thumping. It couldn’t be Billy or he would have 
answered. Was the person behind her? Something 
271 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


had moved in the opposite corner. The place 
seemed full of eerie sounds, seemed peopled with 
furtive shapes. She might as well know first as last 
what she had to face. She bit her lips to steady 
them before she demanded in a tense whisper: 

Who are you? 

The walls batted her question back and forth like 
a shuttlecock, sent it weirdly through space to the 
accompaniment of dripping water. 

Who are you? Who are y-o-u—u-u? 

Fright gave way to indignation. Julie's mind 
cooled. Whoever was there might have had the 
decency to answer her question, she thought. If the 
person had been honest he would have done so. It 
behooved her to be prepared for a villain. She 
groped on the ground for a piece of the rock she 
had heard fall, for anything she could use as a 
missile. Instead of the rough granite she had ex¬ 
pected she gripped a smooth, flat piece of lead. 
The feel of the stocky thing inspired courage. She 
gave it an experimental swing. It was not as heavy 
as she would have liked but properly administered 
it would crack what it struck, she was willing to 
wager. Her voice was steady, was grim with de¬ 
termination as she repeated: 

“ Who are you?" Her movie-unconscious 
or her adventure-unconscious prompted her to add 
theatrically: 


272 


EEBE COMEB THE SUN ! 


Answer or Til shoot! ” 

The threat evoked a startled oath and the sharp 
scratch of a match. As the light flamed blue then 
orange Julie found herself gazing straight into the 
bleak eyes of Willy Small. His usually ruddy faoe 
had a purplish tinge as he demanded hoarsely: ^ 

“Fer the love of Mike! Whatcha doing heri>? 
Didn’t yer git my warnin’ ? ” 

At the sound of his voice Julie’s knees doubled 
like soda-straws when applied to hot chocolate. 
She clutched at the iron ladder. The billion or two 
icy prickles which had attacked her spinal column 
in solid formation at the scratching of the match 
melted into warm rills of pleasurable excitement. 
She had no fear of Small. He would help her as¬ 
semble the fragments of mystery that she and Billy 
—Billy! Where was he? She clutched the man’s 
frayed sleeve: 

MTiere is Mr. Jaffrey? ” 

The writer feller? I don’t know.” 

But he came down here.” 

'' When? ” 

The explosive quality of the question was a cross 
between a pistol shot and a blow-out. 

Just before I came. We found the trap-door 
and decided to investigate. When you did not meet 

me at the sumach bush-” 

Fer the love of Mike, I wrote yer not to come! 

273 



HERE COMEE THE SUN ! 


I sent a line ter the Trafford place an’ one to the 
big house on the chance that yer might not be to 
home.” 

“ I must have left Brick House before your note 
came,” Julie evaded. But now that I am here 
Wrn’t you show me what you promised? ” 

;• The match had long before flickered out. The 
girl could taste and feel and smell the sea air. In 
spite of the fact that she could see nothing she had 
not the slightest fear of Small. She disliked the 
dark but- 

'' I don’t know, ma’am, as I oughter. There’s a 
chance thet the boss might come back, but if you 
want to risk it-” 

I do. But first we must find Mr. Jaffrey.” 

“ Don’t you worry about him, ma’am. The old 
mine has three tunnels an’ they all open out in the 
side of the cliff. The worst thet could happen to 
him would be to step out sudden an’ roll to the 
beach. Did he hev a light? ” 

'' Yes.” 

'' Then don’t worry. He’s all right unless-” 

Unless what? ” 

'' Don’t be scared. I was goin’ ter say unless 
some of the gang come back, but that ain’t prob¬ 
able; it ain’t worth worryin’ about.” Breathing 
through his mouth as was his custom. Small lighted 
a miner’s lamp of a bygone age. It reminded Julie 
274 




HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


of tlie shabby old lamp of Aladdin which his Prin¬ 
cess sold to the wicked African magician. 

Now you toiler close behind me an’-” 

The girl’s throat suddenly went dry. Her tongue 
felt several sizes too large for her parched mouth. 

^‘Wait a minute, Willy. May I have a drink 
before we start? ” 

In answer Small moved toward the dripping 
spring. He knelt and set his lamp on the white 
sand. Its yellow light illumined the water which 
trickled down the rock wall into a shallow pool in a 
hollowed block of granite. From that it flowed in 
a thin stream across the sanded floor and disap¬ 
peared into a mousehole-like opening in a rock. 

The man dipped a tin and offered it brimming 
and dripping to Julie. She shifted her weapon of 
defense from her right hand to her left and took 
the cup. She drank thirstily. The water was ice- 
cold, crystal-clear, slightly brackish. She felt as 
though she had imbibed a magic potion. She was 
refreshed, she tingled with the flair for adventure, 
she was unafraid. She felt Small’s bleak eyes re¬ 
garding her. His voice creaked as he warned: 

Don’t make a sound, ma’am. I’m takin’ a 
chance, showin’ you things here. My boss acted 
kinder queer ter-day, kinder as though he suspected 
me of double-crossin’ him. Listen, if you see or 
hear anyone when we git to the big dugout, run 
275 



HERE COME^ THE EUN ! 

into one of tlie openings there an’ keep a-goin’ till 
you git to daylight.” 

'' I understand, Willy. If you get out first you’ll 
find the bone for Hooch in my car.” 

“ Thank you, ma’am, I’m glad you didn’t fergit 
it. When I heard—well, I took the dog down to 
Snow’s place an’ tied him so he wouldn’t be in the 
way ter-day. Don’t speak after we start. These 
old tunnels is reg’lar megyphones. Heady? ” 

Julie’s voice balked in her throat. She nodded. 
Her wet frock twisted about her knees as she fol¬ 
lowed Small. The piece of lead she still carried in 
her left hand was heavy but she liked the sense of 
preparedness the feel of it radiated through her 
nerves. Should she have told Willy that they could 
not get out the way she had come in, she wondered. 
The biplane must be wrecked on the ground above 
the trap-door. 

The billion or more icy pricldes mobilized again 
as the girl followed the man’s crab-like advance 
down two steps into a tunnel. Its sides were shored 
with great timbers. The fresh air suggested kelp 
and the sea. It seemed as though she groped on 
for miles before they entered a lighter, more airy 
space which had been broadened to the dimensions 
of a good-sized room. 

Small stopped so suddenly that Julie collided 
with him. He flashed his light slowly about the 
276 


EEEE GOMEB THE SUN ! 


walls. It illuminated a few decrepit wheelbarrows, 
rusty picks, portions of cable, sections of lead pipe 
and wooden benches piled waist high with bulky 
bundles covered with black enamel cloth. 

What could the packages be, Julie puzzled. She 
had been prepared to find the place lined with casks 
and bottles but there were none, nothing but those 
funereal but harmless appearing black things. She 
looked at Willy and raised her brows in inquiry. 
He laid his finger on his lips and set the lamp on a 
wheelbarrow. EQs ragged sneakers made no sound 
as he crept toward the wall. With a huge pocket- 
knife of the old-trusty type he cut the cords which 
bound the black bundles. He slit perhaps a dozen 
before he threw back the enamel covers and with 
dexterous flourishes, of the drama of which he was 
quite unconscious, ruffled the contents of each into 
a miniature mountain. 

Julie brushed her hand across her eyes. Was 
she dreaming a fairy story? Silks, bolts and bolts 
of glistening silks were heaped before her. The 
green of emeralds, the pink of tourmalines, the red 
of rubies, the blue of turquoise, of sapphires and 
aquamarines, the yellow of topaz, the violet of 
amethysts made the dull place glow like the jewel- 
heaped cave of Aladdin. The color blazed and 
shimmered in the dim light. Small tiptoed back to 
her with his lantern. 


277 


HERE COME^ THE SUN I 


Seen enougli? ” 

Where did they come from? ’’ Julie’s question 
was a mere breath. She bent her head near the 
man’s to hear his whispered answer. 

“ From the big cities. It’s stole, most of it. All 
kinds and colors. It’s sold across the line fer less 
than the stores can import it.” 

Silk-smugglers! ” 

Huh, you’ve said it. The men who come fer 
this don’t take no chance on anything else.” 

Who is the brains of this enterprise, Willy? ” 
Small raised his voice the merest trifle. 

'' I’ve shown yer the stuff, that evens up what 
yer did fer Hooch. I ain’t sayin’ nothin’ about 
nothin’ else. The rest is up to you.” 

Conjecture, doubt of the soundness of her con¬ 
jecture, suspicion, conviction jostled each other out 
of line in the girl’s mind. Her eyes questioned the 
eyes which weren’t so bleak now before they feasted 
at the banquet of gorgeous color so lavishly spread 
against the dark walls. Did Jim know of this 
traffic going on in his mine? Did Captain Phin? 
Was that why Snow had discoursed on the evils of 
bootlegging till The Trafford had signaled, 
“ Stop! ”? Had they been testing Cheever? Silk- 
smuggling! No wonder the suspected one had been 
calm. What had he to do with so sordid an occu¬ 
pation as the one being flayed by the old fisherman? 

278 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


Wlio would- Wliat was that sound? Julie 

gripped SmalFs sleeve. Her heart tripped up her 
voice as she whispered: 

Lis—^listen, Willy! ” 

Cr-runch! Cr-runch! Cr-runch! 

The man and girl stood tense, motionless. Was 
it the sound of gravel under a cautious foot? The 
light from the old lamp faintly illumined shadowy 
niches in the walls. The black bundles assumed 
gruesome significance. Small turned the light so 
that it shone on the mouth of a tunnel, on another, 
on still another. Julie met the man's curious eyes. 
She bent her head to his in answer to their speech¬ 
less summons. She could barely hear his jerky 
warning: 

^at's the boss! I thought he was trailin' me. 
Don't git frightened. Beat it soon's yer find which 
way he's cornin'." 

Julie nodded. She motioned toward the right- 
hand opening. The sound seemed to have come 
from the passage on the left. There it was again! 
Cr-runch! Cr-runch! Cr-runch! " 

The sound reminded Julie of a play in which the 
tramp, tramp, tramp of an avenging god was heard 
at intervals off stage. The implacable Nemesis 
never appeared but the sinister sound of his foot¬ 
steps worked the audience into a state of suspense 
bordering on hysteria. She wished now, as she had 
279 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


wished then, that the baleful influence would 
pounce and end it. She was not frightened, she 
assured herself, but she had a sense of the quick 
closing in of captivity. 

Her eyes flashed to SmalFs. He nodded. She 
measured the distance to the right-hand opening 
and as he dropped the lamp to the ground she made 
a dash for the tunnel. Before she could reach it 
she crashed into something big and bulky and hu¬ 
man, something which caught her and clapped a 
hand over her mouth. 

Unless some of the gang come back! Willy^s 
words racketed through her mind. The gang! 
They shouldnT stop her from broadcasting the news 
of their enterprise. With all her force Julie 
brought the leaden missile she had clung to like a 
life-preserver down on the head bent above hers. 
She shivered at the impact but the arm about her 
loosened and whoever had gripped her slid to the 
ground. Her heart contracted. What had she 
done! Had she broken open a head? Ho matter 
what happened now she wouldn’t leave a human 
being helpless in the dark. 

'' Willy! Wniy! Bring the lamp! ” she called 
frantically. 

Allow me,” the words came from somewhere 
behind her and the place blazed with light. For an 
instant the glare blinded eTulie, then as her vision 
280 


HERE GOMES THE SUN ! 

cleared sh.e looked toward tke voice. Cheever stood 
smiling indulgently at her. The Boss/' of course. 
She had expected that. She stared at him wide- 
eyed. Had he come back to meet his gang or had 
he suspected—^who—^who had she struck? For an 
instant she closed her eyes then with teeth set hard 
in her lower lip she looked down. She caught at 
her throat to choke back her cry of horror. 

Billy Jaffrey lay at her feet. 


281 


CHAPTER XXn 


Billy ! Billy! ” 

With the sobbed appeal Julie dropped to her 
knees beside the still figure. She lifted Jaffrey’s 
head to her lap and examined it with tender, skilful 
fingers. One side of it seemed to have mushroomed 
but the skin was not broken. She breathed a fer¬ 
vent thanksgiving. For an impulsive instant she 
pressed her cheek against her paFs red hair. If 
anything had happened to Billy—^the thought con¬ 
tracted her heart unbearably. She must get him 
out to the air, quickly! How? She looked about. 
The light came from two rusty old lanterns set in 
dark corners. Electricity! The c-curious 1-lumi- 
nous mist at the mouth of the cave! Who would 
have suspected it? Her glance came back to the 
man standing near. It lingered on his feet and as 
though magnetically drawn crept up and up until it 
met his eyes. Where she had expected triumph she 
saw only maddening commiseration. What did it 
mean? Was he posing? 

Julie flamed with anger. How dared he assume 
that patronizing expression, how dared he? He 
must know that now she had information which 
would wreck his career. Of course he was the 
282 


HERE COME^ THE EUN ! 


brains of this infamous smuggling business. 
Hadn’t Small said that tbe boss ” was coming? 
Where was Willy? He must have made his escape 
thinking that she was safely on her way through 
the right-hand tunnel. 

Julie laid Jaffrey’s head gently on the ground 
and sprang to her feet. The light behind her trans¬ 
muted her tumbled hair into a sort of halo, her not 
blue, not violet eyes were black with earnestness, 
her cheeks were pink with excitement. Her musical 
voice was like a tree-harp roughly shaken by an 
angry breeze as she derided: 

^'What a habit you have of making dramatic 
entrances, Mr. -Cheever! ” Then as he lifted his 
brows in questioning surprise she added, “ I forgot 
that you had lost your memory. Well, shall we 

come to terms about this-” She shrugged and 

looked suggestively at the colorful heaps of silks 
which gleamed in the light. The man’s eyes fol¬ 
lowed hers. Instead of the anger she was pre¬ 
pared to combat with damning facts they darkened 
with sympathy; his voice dripped regret as he ex¬ 
claimed : 

Terms! My dear girl, my dea/r girl, you can’t 
bluff me. I shall be sorry to drag your name into 
it but it is my duty as a public servant to make this 
enterprise of Jim’s-” 

Jim’s! 


283 



HEBE COME^ THE SUN ! 


The horror in your tone is extremely well done. 
I^m sorry but it doesn’t get by. I’ve suspected that 
something phony was going on here. Now I know 
it. This afternoon I saw the dories steal in and 
steal out laden. I saw you and Jaffrey on the 
cliff.” 

Julie felt as though she were in the grip of a 
nightmare. The grieved conviction of the man’s 
voice and manner clutched at her heart. Did he 
believe his preposterous suggestion? He couldn’t. 
What sane person would for an instant accuse Jim 
Trafford of anything so despicable? She didn’t 
give a thought to his accusation of Jaffrey and her¬ 
self. She rallied her courage. Hadn’t Jim said 
that Cheever was a consummate bluffer? Her light 
laugh was a triumph of will over words. 

‘‘You are a more finished actor even than I 
thought you, Mr. Cheever, but you can’t put that 
stuff across. I know that yours is the brain behind 
this smuggling enterprise.” 

The man shrugged, drew a cigarette from his 
pocket, slowly tapped it against his thumb-nail, 
slowly drew a match against the sole of his shoe. 
His deliberation maddened the girl. How long did 
he think he could impose upon her, how long, she 
demanded of herself feverishly. The flare reflected 
in his eyes seemed like leaping imps of flame. His 
tone was indulgent as he inquired: 

284 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 

‘‘If it were do you think I would use another 
man^s mine? Ask the owner of this property how 
this stuff came here if—if you do not know, but 
you do, don’t you? ” 

At his question a bit of catch-phrase advertising 
giggled hysterically through the girl’s mind. 

“ This boy knows the answer. Do you? ” 

Julie fought back an hysterical desire to laugh 
till she cried. Heavens, she hoped that her nerves 
weren’t giving way! The thought steadied her. 
She looked straight up into the eyes above her. 
Hers smoldered but her voice was under control as 
she accused: 

“ Cheat! Liar! Smuggler! 

There was the lightest pressure against her foot. 
She looked down. Had Billy stirred? No, his eyes 
were half-open as they had been when she had laid 
him down. She had forgotten him in the surprise 
of Cheever’s accusation. Had she been wise she 
would have propitiated the man and prettily begged 
his help to get Billy up into the air. Was it too 
late now? Her flicker of hope went out like a 
snuffed candle as she met Cheever’s eyes. They 
were all flame but his voice was suave. 

“ You’ll take that back when the news of this 
smuggling business of Jim’s gets round. However, 
every man has his price and I don’t claim to be 
better than the average. If you don’t want the 
285 


HERE COMEE THE SUN ! 


story broadcasted at Mrs. MarsbalFs reception to¬ 
night -” 

To-night! ” Julie interrupted incredulously. 
Was it still to-day, she marveled. She felt as 
though she had been underground for centuries. 
Would Cheever accuse Jim at Managing Martha’s 
reception? Who would believe his stoiy if he did? 
As many as would believe her counter-charge 
against their present senator, her common sense 
scoffed. She fenced for time. 

What story? ” 

Cheever considered her from beneath frowning 
brows. 

The story that he has been backing a nice fat 
smuggling proposition. Those silks are not the 
only proofs I can present. The men whom you and 
Jaffrey directed this afternoon in their loading 
were caught with the goods out by Old Man Grin- 
dle.” 

Jaffrey and she! The girl’s eyes widened in hor¬ 
rified incredulity. The man’s tone was so convinc¬ 
ing that almost he made her believe that in some 
psychic aberration she had superintended the load¬ 
ing of those boats. Where had they been caught? 
Like a caption on a screen the girl’s mind flashed 
the muffled command from the beach: 

^^Tell Jones to pick up Old Man Grindle and 
stand by! ” 


286 



HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 

Evidently Old Man Grindle liad double-crossed 
bis boss. Who was his boss? Cheever’s impersonal 
coolness had shaken her belief that he was. If he 
were not, why should he be so determined to fix 
the guilt on Trafiord? Mud-slinging, of course. In 
spite of Smairs warning, for the first time since 
Cheever had appeared at the garden gate of Brick 
House she believed that he had forgotten that epi¬ 
sode in the cabin. She had tried to lull herself 
into a feeling of security but all the time there had 
been a doubt pricking. If he really had remem¬ 
bered that he would not abandon that bit of yellow- 
press news if he wanted to stunt Jim^s political 
growth. 

Julie set the teeth of her determination. The 
Dragon-slayer who was fighting to liberate the im¬ 
prisoned princess Clean Politics shouldn’t be van¬ 
quished if she could help. Her mind feverishly 
suggested and rejected compromises as she asked 
scornfully: 

Would you fight your opponent with this con¬ 
temptible weapon? ” 

Cheever’s more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger tone was 
a perfect thing of its kind. 

Contemptible weapon! Isn’t it my duty to the 
voters to let them know the character of their nomi¬ 
nee? Suppose I kept quiet and a newspaper came 
out with the glaring headlines, ‘Apostle of Clean 
287 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


Politics Turns Out to Be a Smuggler! ^ Do you 
get the comedy of that? However, as I suggested 
before every man has his price and I donT claim 
to be above the average. If you will promise to 

throw The Traiford over and give me a- 

She won’t, Cheever,” contradicted a cool voice 
from the shadow. 

Jim! Oh, Jim I 

The exultant cry broke in a sob of excitement. 
As Traiford flung a steadying arm about her shoul¬ 
ders the girl hid her face against his sleeve. 

Steady, Goldilocks, steady! ” He cleared his 
voice of huskiness before he faced Cheever who 
had his head clutched in both hands as he stared 
at him. The senator’s voice was a hoarse whisper 
as he derided: 

Well, I’ll be damned! Now I remember! I re¬ 
member the cabin! I remember the girl’s saying 
you were married! And you married her! Lord, 

but she was clever. She got the richest man-” 

Cheever, if you finish that sentence I’ll break 
every bone in your body.” 

It seemed to Julie that the arm against which 
she leaned turned to iron; that Cheever shifted per¬ 
sonalities before her eyes. It was as though he 
had ordered the self speaking to '' Right about face! 
March! ” before his other self apologized in a voice 
which patted Trafford on the shoulder: 

288 




HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


‘‘I should deserve the punishment. Good old 
quixotic Jim! Forgive me; that was the before-the' 
accident Ben speaking.” Trafford ignored his ex¬ 
planation. 

‘^What are you doing in my mine, Cheerer? 
Can’t you read those no-trespassing signs? ” 

‘^Yes, I can read. I can also deduct. Now 
you’ve touched upon a subject upon which my duty 
as a citizen forbids my being lenient. I was just 
telling Mrs. Trafford that I shall have a thrilling 
bit of entertainment to contribute to Mrs. Mar¬ 
shall’s reception to-night.” 

Why spoil the party, Ben? Before evening we 
shall know who has won. If you have, be mag¬ 
nanimous.” 

Julie clutched Jim Trafford’s arm. Was he pla¬ 
cating the man in that smooth voice, with a smile 
in the depths of his eyes? The nightmare theory 
revived in the girl’s mind. But she wasn’t dream¬ 
ing. It was all incredibly true, as true as those 
gleaming silks against the wall. Cheever seemed 
as astounded as she. The sanctimonious droop of 
his mouth inspired by the thought of his civic duty 
had been succeeded by a slightly dropped chin. He 
recovered his poise quickly: 

“ Magnanimous! I should be unworthy to hold 
office if I kept my constituents in the dark as to 
this blot on the town. It hurts me to do it, Jim, but 
289 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


^ I am warning you so that you can stay away from 
the party. Julie had-” 

Gut that out, Cheever! ” 

Trafford’s voice was hoarse with fury as he 
chopped into the man’s sentence. Two steady 
flames had supplanted the smile in his eyes as he 
stepped in front of the girl. She had no fault to 
And with his manner now. It breathed fire. 

Broadcast your story to-night if you think it 
advisable, Cheever, but if you do, I’ll come back 
with this.” 

Trafford pulled a roll from his pocket and dis¬ 
played a map thumbed and frayed about the edges. 
The flicker of an eyelash could have been heard in 
the silence as Cheever stared at the red and black 
lines which criss-crossed its surface. He met Traf- 
ford’s steady eyes. With an inarticulate oath he 
grabbed for the betraying map. Someone caught 
him by the knees and threw him flat. It was Jaf- 
frey. Jaffrey who dropped heavily back on the 
waist-line of his victim. His beatific grin was 
slightly denatured with pain as he observed jaunt- 
fly: 

So this is Maine! ” 


290 



CHAPTER XXIII 


Jaffrby^s voice roused Julie from tlie comatose 
state into which, his sudden activity had plunged 
her. Regardless of the treachery of the heaving 
seat on which he perched she flung her arms about 
his neck and whispered brokenly: 

Billy dear! I never knew until I thought I’d 
killed you how much I cared! ” 

Holy smoke! Have I been reincarnated in a 
dog? Xever have I seen you grieved over a male 
human before, Marble-heart.” Jaffrey’s chuckle 
could not quite disguise the honest emotion in his 
voice. 

Let him up, Billy! ” 

Trafford’s command was a growl. Jaffrey made 
a futile attempt to rise and dropped back with an 
abandon which jounced a howl of anguish from his 
victim and brought a furious protest from Traf- 
ford. As he got to his feet Cheever rolled in a most 
unstatesmanlike manner from under and sprang to 
his. He glared at the three standing against a 
parti-colored background of silks. The purple an¬ 
ger of his face, the fury of his eyes were burlesqued 
by the fragment of dry kelp which dangled in the 
middle of his forehead with the engaging juvenility 
291 


HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


of a Kewpie cmi. It brought a sparkle to Juliets 
eyes which was struck out as he started for a tun¬ 
nel exit. Would Jini let him go without making 
him deny his lies? 

Trafford rolled up the map and thrust it into his 
coat pocket. Cheever smiled compassionately. 

“ That’s right, Jim. Take care of it. Its pos¬ 
session will prove just one more nail in your pro¬ 
fessional coffin, my friend.” 

The black maw of the tunnel gulped him. The 
three left behind stood motionless as the 
‘^Cr-runch! Cr-runch! Cr-runch!” of footsteps 
grew fainter and fainter and diminished to a mere 
sigh of sound, then silence. Jalfrey gripped Traf- 
ford’s arm and protested hotly: 

Jim, are you going to stand for that accusation 
of smuggling? There is such a thing as being prin¬ 
ciple-logged. Boy! I had you sized up as a fire- 
eater and you let him get away with a bluff like 
that.” 

Billy, if I can keep this disgraceful affair from 
publicity I’m willing for a time to let Cheever 
think I’m scared. The proper authorities will be 
informed but why blazon from coast to coast the 
fact that a man climbing the political ladder is a 
blackguard? Cheever won’t dare accuse me but if 
he does try to bluff this situation on to m^, and 
there is bound to be a sensation anyway. I'll come 
292 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


back with this map. Indicated on it as a distribut¬ 
ing station for silks is this mine and Cheever’s 
cabin as a place where the pilot of the plane was 
to drop information. That last fact will fix the 
responsibility. Come on, we must get Julie home. 
We^ll go out the cliff opening.” 

Shall I cover these gorgeous silks, Jim? ” 
Don’t touch them, Julie. Give me your hand. 
The way out is rough.” 

When the three emerged from the tunnel half¬ 
way up the cliff it was dusk. The fog was crouch¬ 
ing back before the glow of the setting sun, the sea 
was opaque gray glass. High overhead a flock of 
geese in wedge formation honked their way south. 
The western sky was crimson. The reflection deli¬ 
cately tinted the girl’s face, gilded her hair as she 
strained her eyes oceanward. 

Can you see boats? Cheever said that Old Man 
Grindle was holding them as evidence against you, 
Jim.” 

Said who was? ” 

Old Man Grindle.” 

Jaffrey’s shout of laughter sent his hand to his 
head. 

^^Boy, that hurts. You swing a wicked right. 
Marble-heart. Cheever said that the boats had 
been c^yight out by Old Man Grindle. Old Man 
Grindle is a buoy on the ledges.” 

293 


HEBE COMEE THE SUN ! 


Did you see the boats, Jaffrey? ” 
heard them, Jim. After they pulled out I 
bored into the mine to investigate. Just before 
Julie caromed into me I had heard stealthy foot¬ 
steps. I thought that the boatman had come back. 
I clapped my hand over her mouth to prevent her 
making a sound when behold, I saw a great com¬ 
pany of stars a-shooting. I dropped to prevent an¬ 
other attack of staritis.” 

I thought that you were one of the gang, Billy.’^ 

The light flashed before I had a chance to speak. 
As you seemed to be handling the situation plu6 
Cheever with your usual efficiency I reclined and 
humored my thumping head till I should be needed. 
I flatter myself that my neat bit of interference 
reflects credit on my half-back days.” 

When they reached level ground the three made 
their way cautiously across the field in the moist 
dimness. Everywhere cobwebs like spun glass glit¬ 
tered pinkly in the sunset reflection. When they 
reached Carfax and the roadster Julie looked about 
her. 

Where is the sedan? ” 

I have a suspicion that the pilot of the biplane 
is speeding toward Canada and safety in it.” 

Is it possible that he wasnT hurt? ” 

Apparently not so seriously that he couldn’t 
make his get-away. If you plan to attend that re^ 
294 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


ception to-night you’ll all have to hustle. Sit next 
to Julie, Billy. Carfax, you adorn the running- 
hoard till we drop you at Shorehaven. All set? ” 

Trafford eased in the clutch. Julie stole a glance 
at him as with creases deep between his eyes he 
turned into the highway. He had asked no ques¬ 
tions as to her presence in the mine. Why, she 
wondered. She wondered more after they had 
dropped the two men at the gates of Shorehaven. 
Her companion preserved a stern silence till they 
entered the hall at Brick House. 

‘^Wait in the study till I come back, Julie. I 
have something to say to you.” 

“ But, Jim, it is late. I told Aunt Martha that 
I would be with her early and I must dress. Look 
at me! ” 

Like a modiste’s model she pivoted for inspec¬ 
tion. Her once dainty frills were damaged beyond 
redemption, her heliotrope frock was crumpled and 
stained, a smooch accentuated the dimple in her 
chin, the pupils of her eyes were like dark pools, 
her face was flushed a delicate pink. Trafford’s 
eyes lingered on her but for an instant. 

I won’t keep you long. I want the curtains put 
on the roadster before we start for Shorehaven.” 

The girl hesitated then entered the study. 
Through the long windows she could see the bank 
of fog which hung on the horizon line of the bay. 

295 


HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


The stillness of the house dramatized the ticking 
of the old clock. She lighted the lamp on the desk, 
and looked about the room which she rarely en¬ 
tered. Always she thought of it as the dragon- 
slayer^s stronghold in which unruly captives might 
be disciplined. The one bit of wall space not cov¬ 
ered by books was the panel over the mantel in 
which was set the portrait of a white-haired Traf- 
ford in high stock and blue coat with brass buttons. 
The eyes under shaggy brows regarded the girl with 
the same relentlessness which had characterized his 
descendant a few moments before. 

What could Jim have to say to her which was 
of such importance, Julie wondered uneasily. 

Would he—^would he attempt- She pressed her 

hand against her eyes as she felt again the pressure 
of his lips on hers. 

Oh-h,” her passionate protest was transmuted 
into a soft whistle as Trafford entered. The gay 
little air evaporated into silence. His face was 
white. Instinctively the girl edged behind a large 
chair. A wraith of a smile flitted across the man^s 
stem lips. 

^^You won’t need that bulwark to-night, Julie. 
Sit down. I want to talk to you.” 

“ I prefer to hear what you have to say standing. 
You intend to scold about this afternoon, I suppose. 
How did you knoTV wdiere I was? ” Her tone was 
296 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


ablaze with righteous indignation. If one could 
put one’s inquisitor in the wrong one had the 
strategic advantage, she remembered. 

I opened a note in which you were warned not 
to go to the mine to-day. I suspected that Small 
was attempting blaclanail.” 

No, no! Willy is my friend'.’’ 

Your friend? He is Cheever’s right-hand man. 
Didn’t Ben appear soon after your arrival? ” 
“Yes, but Willy had nothing to do with that. 
Do you believe that Cheever’s memory suddenly 
returned in the mine while he was talking to us? ” 

“ Don’t worry about that, Julie. His lies can’t 
hurt us now. I didn’t ask you to wait that I might 
^ scold ’ about this afternoon, I am too thankful 
that you are safe. I asked you to meet me here for 
tea because I wanted to give you these.” 

From a drawer in the desk he produced a velvet 
case, opened it and held it toward the girl. With a 
low cry of incredulity Julie caught his wrist. From 
their white satin bed innumerable blue sparks 
blinked up at her. 

“ The sapphires of the Duchess! ” 

“ A reproduction. You remember I told you that 
I was having them copied.” 

“ How perfect and how beautiful.” 

“ Take them. They are for you. I thought you 
might like to wear them to-night.” 

297 


HERE C03IE8 THE EUN ! 


Julie shrank as though the blue flames from the 
Kashmir sapphires had scorched her. 

No, oh no. I couldn’t.” 

‘^As you like.” Traflord’s face was a degree 
whiter as he snapped the case shut and dropped 
it to the desk. Now, Julie, I want the truth-” 

You don’t intend to leave the sapphires there, 
do you? The doors and windows of this house are 
almost never locked.” 

There is no need of locking them in this vil¬ 
lage. Stop fencing for time, Julie; we’ll have this 
out now. When you threw your arms about Jaffrey 
in the mine I knew that you loved him. You do, 
don’t you? ” 

He hurled the question. Suiq)rise sent a waver¬ 
ing pink to the girl’s hair. She gazed dumbly at 
her interlaced fingers. Her confusion seemed con¬ 
fession. Trafford’s voice was rough with repres¬ 
sion. 

Your silence is answer enough. As you have 
repeatedly reminded me, our marriage was but an 
emergency measure. The only course for me is to 
arrange for its annulment that you may marry 
Jaflrey.” 

Marry Jaffrey! For an instant Julie saw gTeen 
shot through with wriggly red flashes. She shut 
her teeth over a surge of protest. Jim was humili¬ 
atingly eager to hand her over to Billy. Had 
298 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 


Clieever been right in bis hateful insinuation? Had 
Trafford married her out of sheer quixotism? 
Pamela had intimated that too. Did they really 
believe that money had tempted her? Well, he 
shouldn't think that she cared. 

For the first time in her life Julie employed one 
of those uncopyrighted methods girls have invented 
to make a man furiously conscious that he counts 
but as a super in her life, a creature to be endured 
but not enjoyed. Her eyes were the blue of the 
Duchess' sapphires, her cheeks were as pink as the 
'heart of a Eussell rose, her voice was honey-sweet 
as she murmured: 

“ Billy will be pleased, of course." Again for the 
first time in her life she experimented with 
coquetry. She glanced up at Trafford with allur¬ 
ing provocative eyes as she dared: 

Perhaps had I met you first-The sen¬ 

tence dangled for him to finish as he liked. She 
dropped her eyelashes as she had seen her sisters 
drop theirs. She had just time to assure herself 
that for a first attempt she had done exceedingly 
well when ^iTemesis descended. Trafiord caught 
her in his arms. 

What do you mean by looking at me like that, 
Julie? " 

Frightened at the tempest she had roused the 
girl wrenched herself free. Panic and resentment 
299 


HERE COME^ TEE JSUN ! 


fought for supremacy in her voice as she backed 
away from him and reminded: 

Have you forgotten so soon that I am in love 
with BiUy? ” 

With a furious ejaculation Trafford turned and 
left the room. Bewildering emotion flooded Juliets 
heart as she looked after him. 

“ Why did you answer him like that? ’’ she ar¬ 
raigned herself fiercely. Why had she allowed Jim 
Trafford to go thinking that she was in love with 
Billy? Billy was a dear, but she would no more 
marry him than she would marry Dal Carfax. Dal! 
He seemed to have lost his common sense too. 
Why, oh why, couldn’t men remain friends with a 
girl? Love spoiled everything. It opened Pan¬ 
dora’s box and loosed a multitude of worries and 
heartaches and disappointments. She could have 
been perfectly happy at Brick House with Jim had 
he remained the friend he knew so well how to be. 
"Now she would have to go away at once and she 
had begun to hope- 

Go away! The thought which she had hugged 
to her heart through the first days at Brick House 
now tore it to shreds. A sense of unreasoning 
panic shocked the color from her face. She stood 
motionless, her violet eyes gazing unseeingly out 
into the dusk. 

Silly! ” she flouted herself softly. Silly, not 
300 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


to know that you were in love with Jim Trafford 
after seeing five sisters through hectic affairs/^ 
Kealization set her pulses hammering. Ought she 
to play fair and tell Jim? No—no, not yet. Per¬ 
haps in a year—^in six months—^when she was tired 
of thinking only of herself she might—she refused 
to think the situation out to its conclusion. 

An excited voice in the hall startled her back to 
the present. Was it news of the election? Jim’s 
passionate accusation, the emotional tide of her own 
discovery had submerged all else. She ran through 
the living-room. She collided with Phineas Snow 
who caught her by the shoulders and exulted: 

Here comes the sun! Julie, Jim’s elected! ” 

Keally, Captain Phin! Does he know? ” 

The fire died down in Snow’s eyes and voice. 

I told him, jest a minute ago. But he didn’t 
seem to care a hang.” 

A guilty color reddened the girl’s cheeks. 

“ Oh, but he does. He will. Did Cheever get 
many votes? ” 

He did, mark-my-words, it was a close call. He 
held his voters back till the last minute, and Jim’s 
friends jest sweatin’ blood to know what was 
cornin’. That was what made the returns so late. 
Ben thought he’d swamp Jim, but he didn’t. Won t 
there be great doin’ at Mrs. Marshall’s party to¬ 
night? ” For the first time he sensed the girl’s ap- 
301 




HERE COMES THE SUN I 


pearance. His jaw dropped, Ms glassy eyes bulged 
like marbles. Gorry-me, you ain’t goin’ in tbet 
rig, are you? ” 

Of course not, Captain PMn.” 

“ Then put on the prettiest dress you got, Julie. 
Eemember you’re a senator’s wife now. Why don’t 
you wear them sapphires Jim signed up fer me to 
bring? I guess if the townspeople once saw them 
on you—^they think you’re all right, Julie—the 
roamin’ Duchess would be set back hard in her 
frame fer keeps.” 

Julie cast a startled glance at the royal lady 
above the mantel. Her breath came in a sudden 
gasp of excitement, her eyes gleamed with laughter 
as she whispered: 

I’ll wear them, Captain Phin. Don’t tell any¬ 
one. Take Sarah to Shorehaven and come back 
for me-” 

Snow swelled slightly: 

^^But I’ve got to dress myself, Julie. I’ve got 
some new-” 

Then come after you’re dressed, that’s a dear. 
And tell Jim that I am going with you—^that I 
prefer to go with you.” 

But, Julie-” • 

Don’t argue. Hurry! ” 

She waited imtil he grumbled his way into the 
hall before she flashed into the study. She caught 
302 




HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

up tiie case of jewels. Back in the living-room she 
opened it. The blue stones caught the light as like 
a votive offering she held them beneath the cynical 
eyes of the Duchess. Her low voice thrilled as she 
whispered: 

“Here aie your sapphires. The prophecy has 
come true. Those shining knights, Love and Fame 
and Wealth, attend The Trafford.’^ 


303 


CHAPTER XXIV: 


As Jim Trafford entered the hall at Shorehaven 
the musicians in the minstrel gallery were playing 
for the benefit of the dancers in the living-room. 
A baritone voice caught up the air and sang the 
refrain: 

^^You remind me of my mother 
When Mother was a girl like you; 

You look a lot alike you two. 

Her hair was just as fair, her eyes, too, 

Twinkled just tlie same as your eyes do. 

You remind me of my mother 
That^s why I—^love—you.’' 

The wistful sweetness of the man’s voice crum¬ 
bled the barrier Trafford had set against his 
thoughts since he had fled the study, furious with 
heartache and anger. They swarmed back. Mem¬ 
ories of his admiration of the unknown girl on the 
train, the evening in the cabin, the days in his 
house when Julie had been boyishly friendly except 
when she had met his eyes, then she had colored 

adorably and he had hoped- 

Why think of that now? Had he not heard her 
304 



HERE COMEB THE SUN ! 


remorseful cry: Billy dear, I never knew until I 
thought 1 had killed you how much I cared! ’’ 

She had sacrificed herself for him, for his ideals, 
and now that he had won, the least he could do was 
to set her free at the first opportunity. Won! How 
little his victory meant to him. How could he let 
her go? It would be like tearing his heart out by 
the roots. She was so sweet, so true, so altogether 
lovable. 

He made a desperate effort to free his senses from 
the girhs pervasive charm and personality and 
looked about him. The house was alive with guests 
even to the second balcony off which opened the 
radio-room and the glassed-in apartment from 
which Martha Marshall observed the stars. Many 
were dancing, more were chatting in the great hall, 
couples were twosing on the enclosed verandas 
which were lighted by silk lanterns that glowed like 
precious stones. Groups hovered near the dining¬ 
room sniffing the aroma of coffee and casting fur¬ 
tive glances at the cakes and rolls in appetizing 
profusion which could be glimpsed through the 
open doors. 

Trafford's heart warmed. These were his people 
and what a fine type they were. To-day they had 
shown their confidence in him. He must make good 
for them. He would. He would not allow his love 
for a girl who did not love him to bankrupt his life. 

305 


HERE C03IES THE SUN ! 


A smile flashed in Ms eyes as lie observed the 
recently deposed postmaster who looked like a 
prize-fighter and talked like a professor glaring 
across the hall at his successor who looked like a 
professor and talked like a prize-fighter. The se¬ 
lectmen stood in an aloof group. A realization of 
their importance gave a pouter-pigeon puff to their 
waistcoats, their run-to-weed eyebrows frowned 
above eyes which scanned the beautiful hall with 
an appraising, we-must-raise-her-taxes glint in their 
depths. 

In spite of the intolerable ache in his heart Traf- 
ford laughed as his glance fell on Phineas Snow. 
The Captain was attired in a belted suit of juvenile 
style and checker-board design. His glittering pat¬ 
ent leathers might have been responsible for his 
heron-like posture as at half-minute intervals he 
drew one leg up under him and balanced precari¬ 
ously on the other foot. The outstanding feature 
of his festal array was his teeth, of startling white¬ 
ness, of standardized regularity. That they were a 
trifle unsettled in their strange quarters was evi¬ 
denced by the restlessness of their owner’s jaws. 
Apparently Snow had run up a flag of truce for the 
occasion for he was listening to Sarah Beddle. The 
housekeeper’s stand-alone black taffeta clashed 
with jet at every movement, her cheeks were beacons 
of color. 


306 


HERE COMEB THE EUN ! 


Directly across tlie hall from the great stairway, 
on the steps which led to the cloister, which in turn 
led to the garden, stood Martha Marshall receiving 
her guests. The closed casement door behind her 
made an artistic background for her stately figure. 
Against the silver of her gown her priceless pearls 
gleamed softly. Near her stood Pamela Parkman 
in a cerise frock which accentuated the whiteness 
of her skin, the lacquered blackness of her hair and 
brows. She was listening to Carfax but her glance 
wandered restlessly about the hall. 

What consideration would she mete out to the 
defeated candidate, Trafford wondered. He turned 
as his mother touched him lightly on the arm. 

Jim, come into the morning-room with me. I 
have been lying in wait to seize you before you 
were surrounded. Everyone in the village is here 
from the town fathers to freckled Pete Sparks who 
is enthusiastically acting as self-appointed guide to 
the observatory and radio-room.” 

As they entered a small room, small only in a 
relative sense, Anne Trafford caught his hands in 
hers: 

Jim dear, I am so happy that you have won. 
We lived through hours of maddening suspense 
this afternoon while waiting for returns. The situ¬ 
ation was not eased by Martha Marshall’s half- 
hourly reminder that under the affliction of Mer- 
307 




HEBE COMEB THE SUN ! 


cury by Luna and some other old planet this day, 
you, as well as Julie, were subject to subtle attacks 
and fraud.’’ 

Her eyes laughed up at him but Tralford saw 
the quick rush of tears before she pressed her lips 
to his sleeve and said softly: 

I am so proud of you, Jim.” 

Her son rested his cheek against her satin hair. 
He struggled to keep his voice light as he reminded: 

“ Mother, one might think from your jubilation 
and Captain Phin’s that I had been elected to the 
presidency. I feel bound to remind you that I am 
but an humble state senator.” 

Anne Trafford blinked her lashes and lauglied 
with him. 

I know, dear, but it isn’t the distance you have 
run already that counts, it is the force and principle 
which you have within you that will keep you going 
up. Have you seen Julie? She is a picture in her 
pearl-beaded white frock. Was there ever a lovelier 
bride, I wonder? ” 

“ Don’t, Mother.” 

Trafford’s voice was hoarse as he turned to 
examine a water-color on the wall. Anne Trafford 
slipped her hand under his arm. 

What has happened, dear? ” 

Julie loves Jaffrey.” 

Of course she loves him, but as she would love a 
308 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

brother. Why should you imagine anything more 
serious? 

She acknowledged it. She would not drive over 
with me to-night. She sent a message by Snow 
that s le preferred to go with him.’’ 

I know that. She ’phoned me that she was 
coming with the Captain.” 

Telephoned you! Why? ” 

Oh, a little detail of dress. You know we 
women consult one another oc-ca-sionally.” 

The last word was mischievously drawled. There 
was suppressed excitement in the tone. The laugh¬ 
ter in Anne Trafford’s eyes was dangerously akin 
to tears, her tender lips were unsteady. What had 
happened, her son wondered. Something more than 
his election or Julie’s perfection was responsible 
for her emotion. He caught her by the shoulders. 

Mother-” 

Have you told him, Anne? ” 

Major Thomas Buell effectually blocked the door 
with his broad shoulders as he asked the question 
in a whisper which could have been heard in the 
rear rank of a battalion. The expression of his 
eyes gave Trafford the sensation of having glanced 
inadvertently into a holy of holies. He encircled 
his mother with his arms. 

You needn’t tell me. I know. You have prom¬ 
ised to marry the Major! ” 

309 






HERE GOME^ THE SUN I 


Wlio told you? ” 

He, just now. Not in words, with his eyes. A 
man looks like that only when he attains his hearths 
desire.” 

I should not have said ^ Yes ’ had you ne t had 
Julie, Jim.” 

Trafford flinched as though his heart had sud¬ 
denly been run through a wringer. 

“ Even if I hadn’t Julie, Mother, I shouldn’t al¬ 
low you to sacrifice the rest of your life to me.” 

Jaffrey ducked under the Major’s barricading 
arm and burst into the room. His face was almost 
as white as his shirt-front, his green eyes snapped, 
his red hair reared, his voice rumpled with excite¬ 
ment as he commanded: 

^^Jim, come out of here, quick! Cheever has 
asked Aunt Martha if he may say a few words of 
greeting to her guests! His defeat has made him 
flaming mad and Pam has fed the fire by snubbing 
him.” He gulped and wiped his hot forehead. 

“ T^Tiere is Julie? ” 

Up-stairs dressing.” 

Dressing! I thought-” 

Don’t stop to think, Jim! Come out! ” rushed 
Jaffrey. ^^You won’t let Cheever speak, will 
you? ” 

Why not? Mother, go to Julie. Keep her up¬ 
stairs until I send for her. Come on, Billy. Let’s 
310 



HERE COMEB THE 8UN t 

hear what the silver-tongued orator has to say.” 
He put his hand into his breast pocket to make sure 
that the rolled map was secure before he led the 
way from the room. 

The hall was full of expectant guests. Trafford 
and Jaffrey stopped outside the morning-room door. 
On their right the great staircase curved to the 
balcony; on their left Cheever leaned against the 
casement door at the top of the steps which Mrs. 
Marshall had graciously ceded to him. Trafford 
was reminded of the night his political opponent 
had backed against the door of a cabin. Then his 
expression had been malevolent; to-night it was one 
of condescending indulgence. 

As Cheever began to speak Trafford watched the 
effect of his words on the faces about him. The 
defeated candidate expressed the usual apprecia¬ 
tion of the support of his constituency, handed a 
few bouquets of artificial compliments to his suc¬ 
cessor, then with a quick change to confidential ap¬ 
peal he leaned forward: 

But before you congratulate yourselves on ac¬ 
quiring a new representative in the state senate, 
I suggest that you ask the gentleman if there are 
no—^well—say—shadowy comers in his life. Ask 
him-” the speaker paused for dramatic effect. 

He’s after you, Jim. Come back at him with 
that map,” exploded Jaffrey in an excited whisper. 

311 


HERE COMEE THE SUN ! 

Traffard clutched his arm to silence him as Cheever 
continued: 

^‘Ask him to entertain you with an account of 
his melodramatic plunge into matrimony. Ask 

him-” 

Good God!” 

Cheever hesitated at the hoarse interruption. He 
had flung his words at his listeners with such rapid¬ 
ity that Trafford had been caught in a maze of in¬ 
credulity. He had expected an accusation of smug¬ 
gling instead- 

Good God! ” he repeated as he wrenched him¬ 
self loose from Jaffrey’s clutch. Billy caught and 
held him with a choked : 

^^Wait a minute, Jim! Just a minute! Look! 
Look!” 

The effect of his excited whisper spread in widen¬ 
ing circles like the ripples from a pebble dropped 
into a still pool. Faces which had been turned to¬ 
ward Cheever in amazed attention whitened or red¬ 
dened in startled unbelief as they followed Jaffrey’s 
eyes. The hall settled into the stillness of the pal¬ 
ace of the Sleeping Beauty upon which an evil fairy 
had cast her spell as a woman ran half-way down 
the great stairway. 

It was the Duchess of the portrait! The Duchess 
in blue satin and gold brocade, with a black spaniel 
under one arm and a sapphire bow against the 
312 



HERE COME^ THE SUN ! 

braids of fair hair wound about bor bead, sapphires 
at ber ears, sapphire buttons on her pointed bodice 
and the diamond setting of a great sapphire flash¬ 
ing on her finger. 

Trafford brushed his hand across his eyes. Was 
he dreaming? Had excitement turned his brain? 
Could that be the Duchess? Of course not! It 
was Julie! Julie wearing the costume his mother 
had had made for the fancy-dress ball and the 
sapphires he had given her. The girl on the stairs 
held up her hand. A golden thread of camaraderie 
ran through the velvet of her voice as she pleaded: 

Don’t be frightened, please. It is only I, Julie. 
Jim had the sapphires copied from those in the 
portrait. When they came to-day it occurred to 
me that if I were to appear in the gown and jewels 
of the Duchess we could all laugh together over the 
absurd story of her quest. iSTow I’ll answer Mr. 
Cheever.” 

“ You won’t.” 

With the furious protest Trafford surged for the 
stairway. Jaffrey dragged at his arm. He shook 
with excitement. His voice was half chuckle, half 
sob as he pleaded: 

“Jim, wait! Wait! Let Julie do it. Listen! 

Lis-” He stopped as the girl spoke. She 

smiled down upon the startled faces looking up at 
her: 


313 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 

Oil, you can’t know how I have wanted to tell 
you how, where and when Jim and I were married! 
You have been so kind to me and all the time you 
must have wondered. I feel as Christian felt when 
the load slipped from his shoulders. On my way 
to visit my aunt I jumped from the Pullman to 
chase this dog who ran away when the train 
stopped. Jim saw me and followed. The train left 
us. The storm caught us. We took refuge in a 
cabin. The thunder and lightning were terrific. 
There came a blinding flash, a crash, another flash 
that struck the pine outside. That last sent me 
straight to Jim. The next I knew from the shelter of 
his arms I was staring at Cheever inside the door.” 

She freed the wriggling spaniel and as he ran 
down the stairs she caught the carved rail beside 
her and leaned forward, her eyes starry with ex¬ 
citement. 

“ The man threatened to use the situation to de¬ 
feat his opponent unless he withdrew from the con¬ 
test. Jim had told me of his ideals for clean poli¬ 
tics. Could I let him sacrifice his career to shield 
me? I declared that we were married. What could 
Jim do? If he denied it, he branded me a liar. 
Cheever rushed off to spread the news which he 
knew was not true and Jim and I took the midnight 
train to Portland and were married. When we 
reached Clearwater and heard that Cheever was 
314 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


unconscious and would not live I begged that the 
whole affair might be kept secret. But he didn^t 
die and we acknowledged the marriage.” 

She flashed a defiant glance at Cheever who still 
stood by the casement door. He was smiling with 
cynical bravado. He shrugged as his eyes rested 
for an instant on the white shoulders in a cerise 
setting which were turned squarely against him. 
He bent his head as though listening for a distant 
sound as Julie concluded: 

That is the whole story. Jim has won the elec¬ 
tion without stooping to muddy methods, and I 
shall help him make good all his life if—if he wants 
my help.” 

Her voice trailed away in an embarrassed whis¬ 
per as though for the first time she were conscious 
of the tearful eyes looking up at her. There was 
an instant of silence, followed by happy laughter, 
tumultuous applause, a surge toward the stairs. 
As Jim Trafford reached the step beside the girl a 
deafening explosion shook the air. Across the sea 
of frightened white faces his eyes met Cheever’s 
triumphant glance. Over the rail of the second 
balcony leaned a face white under its freckles as a 
boy^s voice shrilled: 

Gee, folks! There’s a big fire at the Cove! I’ll 
bet the roamin’ Duchess has Mowed up the copper- 
mine!” 


315 


CHAPTER XXV 


There was a second of stunned silence before 
Trafford caught the girts hands. The flaming ar¬ 
dor of his eyes seemed to touch her hair, her lips, 
her throat. There was a newly possessive note in 
his voice as he commanded: 

^^When you are ready Captain Phin will take 
you to Brick House, Julie. I must go to the mine. 
Wait in the living-room until I come. Promise.” 

I promise.” 

He spread her slender fingers on his palm, looked 
down at them, then up at her. His expression set 
the pulses in her throat to beating furiously. 

No, Jim. Vo.'” 

His low laugh was as disturbing as his eyes. 

I won% Julie—now. The sudden ascent from 
despair has gone to my head—^that^s all.” He 
crushed the hand he held and turned away. 

When two hours later, with the cumbersome 
satins of the Duchess replaced by the soft white¬ 
ness of the pearl-beaded frock, Julie curled up in 
the wing-chair in the living-room at Brick House, 
his words came back to her with a distinctness 
which set her heart to beating suffocatingly. She 
had had the sense of being crushed in his arms 
316 


HEEE COMES TEE SUN ! 


tliougli lie had held only her hand. She had res¬ 
cued that just in time. 

The room was lighted only by the glow from the 
fire. She shut her eyes and leaned her head against 
the back of the chair. What a day! It seemed 
years long. She visualized the river and the old 
mill; she could hear the purl of water, smell the 
pines and crisping bacon. Her heart thumped 
reminiscently as she lived again the tense moment 
by the iron ladder when she had waited for a voice, 
she knew not whose, to answer her. She saw Chee- 
ver across the great hall, saw him lean forward as 
though listening, w^aiting. Then Jim had come 
and gone with that light in his eyes; Billy had ad¬ 
ministered a pat and a gruff, ‘^YoiTre one good 
little sport, Marble-heart! ” before he had rushed 
off in Trafford^s wake. She brushed her hand 
across her wet lashes as she remembered the white 
misery of Carfaxes face and his broken apology: 

“ I was given to understand that your marriage 
was for political reasons only, Julie. Forgive me. 
I did not know that you loved Jim.” 

The girPs cheeks burned. Had she made the fact 
so apparent? It was so like her to bare her heart 
to the world, just as she had decided that she would 
wait months before she told Jim, she derided herself 
scornfully. Of course Cheever was responsible for 
DaPs information, Cheever who had blown up the 
317 


HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


mine to destroy all evidence of his smuggling ac¬ 
tivities. Captain Phin had monologued all the way 
to Brick House. 

Gorry-me, Jim kept what he thought Cheever 
was up to quiet till after election, didn^t he? Folks 
are more hurt than mad about Ben’s doin’s. They 
won’t take action against him. They’ve just ad¬ 
vised him to leave town fer a spell, an’ he’s goin’. 
The Trafford didn’t need to sling mud to win out. 
He didn’t have to use thet map, either. He give it 
to me to put in his desk. You take care of it, Julie. 
I don’t want to stop a minute after I set you an’ 
Sarah down. I’m goin’ to the mine. It’s lucky we 
had thet heavy fog or this county might hev been 
wiped out by fire. Besides bein’ planted with dyna¬ 
mite the log shorin’ had been saturated with gas. 
Willy Small saw Cheever workin’ there after you 
folks had gone. There ain’t no doubt in anybody’s 
mind who did the trick.” 

Julie had taken the map, she remembered. But 
when she had entered the house Sarah Beddle, who 
followed her, had startled all thought of it from 
her mind by exclaiming with a fervor which set 
every individual jet to clashing: 

M’s. Jim Trafford, I’m proud you belong to 
us! ” 

Julie forced open heavy lashes. The quiet of 
the room, the purr of the fire, her day of excitement 
318 


HERE GOMEB THE SUN ! 


seemed. drugging lier mind. What had she done 
with the map? Had she laid it on Jim's desk with 
the sapphires? She loved that wonderful ring—of 
course the jewels were safe until Jim came—she 
snuggled her head more comfortably against the 
cushions—perhaps if she closed her eyes for a mo¬ 
ment and rested them- 

It seemed barely a second before they opened 
wide in startled attention. She sat erect. Had she 
heard a door close softly? She had felt a breath 
of cool air. The sound had come from the study. 
The sapphires were on Jim's desk! Her heart 
thumped heavily. Cautiously she leaned forward. 
Through the French windows in the room beyond 
she could see the stars blinking drowsily as though 
making a superhuman attempt to prop up heavy 
lids which persisted in drooping and hiding their 
glimmer. 

Julie tiptoed to the threshold of the study. In 
contrast with the dusk of the room a spark on the 
gravel path outside glowed like a beacon for an 
instant and winked out. The girl brought her white 
teeth down on her lip to force back a startled 
“ Cheever! ” Cheever and his inseparable ciga¬ 
rette. Her thoughts swirled and steadied. A disc 
of light scouted about the desk top for an instant. 
He was in the room. He had come for that in¬ 
criminating map. She must get him out of the 
319 


HERE GOMES THE SUN ! 


house before Jim returned. This would be the last 
straw to break the back of The Trafford’s self- 
control. 

She touched the button in the wall. The lamp 
on the broad-topped desk glowed into soft brilliance. 
Its light shot blue flames into the depths of the 
sapi^hires in the open case beneath it, shot red 
flames into the eyes of the man who stared back 
at her, threw into relief the network of fine lines 
at their corners, accentuated the thinness of the 
lips which twisted slowly into a smile. 

The atmosphere of the room seemed electrified. 
Cheever straightened and casually picked up the 
map he had been examining. 

This is an unexpected pleasure, Mrs. Trafford. 
I drop in to congratulate our new senator and I 
find his charming Avife. Doubtless you have come 
on the same errand. For fear I shall be de trop 
I’ll go at once and leave you to present my good 
wishes.” 

He thrust the map into his pocket and took a 
step toward the long window. Julie reached it 
first. She turned the key and with the bit of metal 
clutched in her hand backed against the glass. 

You can’t go until you have dropped that map.” 
Her heart skipped a beat as she heard automobile 
wheels outside. “ Be quick! Jim is coming. Do 
you want him to find you here like this? Do you 
320 


HEBE COMES THE SUN ! 


want ‘breaking and entering^ added to your al¬ 
ready smooched record? 

Cheever’s eyes were alight with mocking admira¬ 
tion as he approached her. 

“ Just to look at you as you are now is worth any 
risk. Lord, but you^re lovely! Don’t glare at ma 
I’ve no quarrel with you. I hate Trafford. He 
turned against me. When he was a boy he took 
my word for anything. I didn’t care what I did to 
smash his reputation.” 

“ Or mine? ” 

“ I’m sorry that I had to drag you in. I’ve been 
waiting for a chance to tell you that I knew Jim 
was on the level that night in the cabin. When I 
recovered from the accident I heard no mention of 
The Trafford’s marriage. I knew then that you 
and he had counted on my snuffing out. When that 
day in the garden he presented you as his wife, I 
was staggered. Then I third-degreed the informa¬ 
tion out of Willy Small that he had seen you board 
the Portland train. It didn’t take me long to find 
the record of the marriage.” 

“ What did it profit you to pretend you had for¬ 
gotten? ” 

“ It kept Jim on the anxious seat.” He shrugged 
cynically. “All’s fair in love and politics. All his 
life The Trafford has had things handed to him on 
a silver platter and then I, seizing a chance to 
321 


EERE GOME^ THE SUN ! 


smasli him—fool that I was—^handed him you. He 
has all the luck. Why couldn’t I have been on 
hand to help you chase that dog? Then you would 
have married me.” 

For one horrible moment Julie feared that fury 
had paralyzed her. Even the strain of earnestness 
through the mocking voice did not palliate. She 
could neither speak nor move. Then the shackles 
burst. But even in her anger she remembered 
Jim’s possible proximity. Her low voice shook as 
she demanded: 

How dare you imply that I would have married 
you? Not you nor any other man in the world but 
Jim Trafford.” 

Cheever’s face reddened darkly. 

You needn’t take what I said as an insult. I’ve 
been crazy about you since the night in the cabin 
when you brazened the situation out.” 

^^Ho you expect me to believe that after your 
hateful question at Shorehaven to-night? ” 

“I was wild with fury. The people who had 
patted me on the back for years had set Jim up to 
worship. It was a false move. I know it now. 
I’ve lost whatever I had. But it was almost worth 
it to see you on the stairs. I love a fighter-” 

“ Then you’ll have an opportunity at once to take 
one on,” announced a furious voice from the thresh- 
old. Trafford’s face was livid as he stepped for- 
322 



HERE COMEB THE ^UN ! 


ward. “ There has been a thrashing due you since 
the night of the storm.’’ 

With an inarticulate protest Julie flung herself 
upon him. Trafford held her close. 

Xo, Jim, no. He has already apologized to me 
for that. There is to be no quarrel on my account.” 
Her breath caught in a sob of relief as she felt the 
arm about her tighten. A one-handed man couldn’t 
do much harm to his opponent. Mr. Cheever 
came here for the map. I objected to his taking it 
without your consent, that is all.” 

All! I heard him say-” 

“ That I love your wife. What of it? Isn’t she 
everything that is lovable? Because I’m not an 
incorruptible like you, do you think I don’t know 
a thoroughbred when I see one? That I want to 
marry a girl like Pamela Parlanan if the other 
kind ■will have me? ” 

Cheever’s face was only a degree less white than 
Trafford’s as he lighted a cigarette. The glow of 
the match cast sardonic shadows on his face. Julie 
watched him in incredulous silence. Intrigant, 
smuggler, wildly improbable as it seemed, the man 
had ideals, the divine spark her father found in 
every human. With his faith and tenderness the 
domine would have fanned it into a steady flame. 
The thought softened her voice as she threw the 
key to the desk and implored: 

323 


HERE COMES TEE SUN ! 


‘‘ Leave the map and go, please/^ 

Cheever looked from her lips which quivered ever 
so slightly to the tense face, the blazing eyes of 
the man who held her in a possessive, white-knuck¬ 
led grip. He shrugged: 

“ Why should I hurry? I- 

Cheever, get out! Do you want to be thrown 
out? Take the map. I donT want it. I didn^t need 
it in the campaign. I shall never need it.’^ 

Trafford^s lips were colorless. Julie felt the 
muscles in the arm about her twitch. Cheever^s 
mask of insolent indifference seemed riddled with 
surprise. His black eyes lost their malevolence. 
Awkwardly, as though incredulous, he picked up 
the key and the map. His expression twisted 
Juliets heart. Then it seemed as though she felt 
the tender touch of her father’s hand upon her 
shoulder. She smiled through a mist as she said 
softly: 

“ Good-bye and good luck to you—in finding a 
girl to love.” 

For an instant the man stared at her. His face 
was dark with color as he inserted the key. On 
the threshold he turned: 

Good luck, Jim, and—and thank you for this.” 
He thrust the map into his pocket and went out. 

Julie stood motionless until the sound of foot¬ 
steps on the gravel walk ceased. Then she freed 
324 


HERE COMES THE SUN i 


herself. She locked the French window and after 
an instant^s hesitation began to arrange the desk 
fittings in military precision. Her heart tripped 
as she looked up and met Trafford’s intent eyes. 
He smiled. 

Exit Ben Cheever.^’ 

But a different Ben, Jim? 

^^For the moment/’ then in answer to her in¬ 
articulate protest, “We’ll hope for the best. At 
least he has the discermnent to appreciate you, you 
glorious girl.” He steadied his voice. “ Stop put¬ 
ting that desk in order or I shall never find any¬ 
thing. Come into the other room. I want to talk 
to you.” 

As Julie slipped by him into the living-room the 
yellow cat abandoned her post beneath the x)ortrait 
of the Duchess and sprang to the broad window¬ 
sill. She doubled velvet paws neatly under her 
tawny breast and with wary topaz eyes peered from 
between the net curtains. 

The girl seated herself on the broad arm of the 
couch. The firelight turned her white frock to rosy 
hyacinth. With his arm resting on the mantel 
Trafford smiled at her as he confirmed jubi¬ 
lantly : 

“ We’ve won.” 

The steadiness of his voice, the laughter in his 
eyes banished her self-consciousness. 

325 


HEBE COMEE THE 8UH ! 


“ Congratulations, Mr. Senator. Now you will 
go on and on and-” 

^^Not so fast as that. Eemember that I am 
elected only. I haven’t made good yet. However, 
I know that I can or I shouldn’t have entered the 
campaign. You effectually laid the ghost of the 
roaming Duchess to-night, Julie. What prompted 
you to appear in character? ” 

His friendly voice rescued her from the quick¬ 
sands of emotion and placed her on firm ground. 
Her eyes shone with laughter. 

Wasn’t my entrance dramatic? After you had 
shown me the sapphires the idea sprang full grown 
in my mind. I was sure if the townspeople could 
see the jewels they would realize how silly they had 
been. I ’phoned your mother for permission to use 
the gown—and that’s all.” 

That question having been answered to my sat¬ 
isfaction I’ll ask another. From whom was the 
letter you kissed, Julie?” 

The sudden deepening of his eyes and voice set 
the girl’s pulses racing, but her laughing glance met 
his audaciously: 

Don’t you wish you knew? ” Then as he took 
a purposeful step forward she parleyed breath¬ 
lessly : Please—^please, I’ll tell you. It was a let¬ 
ter from Mother and Dad.” 

Trafford caught her hands in one of his and drew 
326 



HERE GOME^ THE SUN ! 


her inexorably toward him. His face was white 
as he lifted her chin and tried to see the eyes hidden 
beneath long lashes. 

Why did you let me think that you loved Jaf- 
frey? ” 

Don^t you think so now? ” 

Her tone of surprise was so well done that he 
dropped her hands and thrust his hard into his 
coat pockets. His voice was stern as he answered: 

No. Hid you mean it when you said that you 
would help me all my life, Julie? 

I said—if you wanted me.’’ 

“Wanted you!” Trafford cleared his voice. 
“ Hid you say that merely because you believe in 
the sacredness of a marriage contract or be¬ 
cause-” he stopped as the violet eyes flashed 

to his. A smile curved the girl’s lips. With tan¬ 
talizing deliberation she counted on the tips of her 
pink fingers: 

“ That was reason one; two, was those ‘ tons of 
wedding-cake in little white boxes ’; think of the 
embarrassment for Managing Martha if we sepa¬ 
rated after that cake-shower—^third, she has already 
added our pearl to her string—^and fourth-” 

TrafCord had her in his arms. His voice was 
hoarse as he prompted: 

“ And fourth? ” 

“ I discovered that I loved-” 

327 



HERE COMES THE SUN ! 


He smotliered tlie word upon her lips. He kissed 
her thoroughly, compellingly before he held her 
away from him the fraction of an inch. His eyes 
were turbulent, his rich voice unsteady as he de¬ 
manded : 

^^Must I apologize for kissing you this time, 
JuHe? ” 

Color stole into her face which had been white, 
laughter flashed into the eyes which avoided his. 

‘‘ I should have insisted upon an apology if—if 
you hadn’t,” she answered with a breathless at¬ 
tempt at bravado. 

Trafford released her only to crush her hands in 
his. The smile she loved was in the depths of his 
eyes as he announced: 

I am going away to-morrow, Goldilocks.” 

Away? Where? ” 

He raised her left hand and pressed his lips to 
the glistening circlet on her third finger before he 
answered huskily: 

“ I shall take my wife to see her mother and her 
Dad.” 

A lovely light shone softly in the eyes which met 
his unfalteringly. A faint color stole to the girl’s 
hair as she breathed a rapturous: 

Really? ” Then added with an adorable imita¬ 
tion of Sarah Beddle: M’s. Jim Trafford will love 
that.” 


328 


HERE COME^ THE SUN / 


Julie—you—you dear! ” 

The old clock ticked ponderously: 

“ You dear! You dear! You dear! A red coal 
dropped in the grate. The firelight softened the 
eyes of the Duchess as she looked down upon the 
man's black head bent above the fair hair against 
his shoulder. The topaz eyes of the yellow cat 
peered out from between the laces. Suddenly they 
narrowed to black slits. Their owner soundlessly 
backed behind the hangings. The black spaniel 
dashed into the room. He stopped. He barked. 
Head tilted, long ears fiopping, red tongue dangling, 
black eyes snapping, he grinned broadly and sat 
back on his haunches to observe the tableau before 
him. He barked again imperatively, ingratiatingly. 
Ignored, he flopped to the floor, dropped his head 
upon his outstretched paws and with a long-drawn 
sigh of resignation, tactfully closed his eyes. 


THE END 


329 


More bright the East became, the ocean turned 
Dark and more dark against the brightening sky— 
Sharper against the sky the long sea line. 

The hollows of the breakers on the shore 
Were green like leaves whereon no sun doth shine, 
Though sunlight make the outer branches hoar. 
From rose to red the level heaven burned; 

Then sudden, as if a sword fell from on high, 

A blade of gold flashed on the ocean’s rim. 

—Richard Watson Gilder, 


330 



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